A pizza takeaway has had its alcohol licence suspended for three months after illegal workers were found during a immigration raid. Tops Pizza in Reading avoided having its full licence revoked after lawyers argued its franchisor had no knowledge that three illegal workers had been employed there. The Home Office found them working there and in full uniform in April.
Tops Pizza said the case had "provoked a wholesale review" of the company. Lawyer Matthew Phipps argued Tops Pizza Ltd, the licence holder, did not carry out "that exploitation", the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported. He added: "We are very sorry. We have let ourselves down."
Supervisor of the Reading branch and director Ali Yazdi was effectively absent from the takeaway, Mr Phipps said.
Franchise owner Masood Aghabarari's contract has now been terminated and the business was liquidated in November, with new owners taking over.
