A takeaway and its owner have been handed hefty fines after fraudulently claiming £20,000 in COVID support grants.
Ajibola Jerimiah Adenuga, who is the owner of a takeaway food business – which trades under the name Suya Republick – on Chester Road, just outside of Manchester city centre, was last week (Friday 31 May) sentenced at a hearing, and subsequently fined following first pleading guilty to six offences at a Magistrates Court hearing back in November of last year.
The 35-year-old from Eccles benefited from a whopping £17,669 in fraudulent COVID support grant claims, and also attempted to claim a further £2,667 – which would’ve made it a total of £20,336.
Mr Adenuga first made his way onto the Council’s radar after his application for an Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) in February 2022 was declined and subsequently referred for investigation, as it was found that he was takeaway, rather than a restaurant as claimed in his application, and takeaways were not eligible under this scheme as they were not required to close.
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Chester Road in Manchester, where the takeaway was located / Credit: Google Maps
Following the Council’s investigation, it was found that Mr Adenuga had also received a Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) totalling £9,669.21 after claiming to be a ‘sexual entertainment and hostess bar’ when operating as a takeaway.
Mr Adenuga also received a Restart Grant (RG) of £8,000 by claiming to be an outdoor bar supplying alcoholic beverages.
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Mr Adenuga was interviewed twice by Council officers in June and July 2022, and admitted that he had made false applications to support his business.
His guilty pleas therefore saw him sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, 200 hours unpaid work with five Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days attached, costs of £1,400 plus a £114 victims surcharge, and the Court also suspended his personal licence to sell alcohol for two months.
The company itself was also fined £1,000, along with £1,400 in costs under the Fraud Act 2006 for three offences, and ordered to pay a £400 victims surcharge.
Featured Image – Google Maps
News
Full list of Christmas opening hours at all UK supermarkets 2024
Emily Sergeant
Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, and M&S are among the supermarkets to adjust opening hours at stores across the UK during the festive period.
As Christmas is fast approaching, most of us will have already started to stock up on food and drink for the big day ahead of time, but with so much to prepare for, it’s pretty easy to forget something important – which tends to leave us running to the shops before 25th.
While some have probably opted for home deliveries or Click & Collect services, others still prefer to shop in store.
To help you make sure everything is sorted, we’ve pulled together a list of all the major supermarket opening hours over the festive period, so grab your bags for life and get your shopping list at the ready, because Santa is on his way and he’ll be expecting his annual dose of mince pies.
Here’s a roundup list of supermarket opening hours.
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Tesco
Shoppers are being advised to check the Tesco Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local, as different branches may be operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.
Here’s a rough guideline:
Monday 23 December: 6am – 12pm
Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 6am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 9am – 6pm
Check the opening times for your local Tesco store here.
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Sainsbury’s
Just like Tesco, Sainsbury’s will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, as well as being closed on Christmas day, but shoppers are encouraged to head to the retailer’s Store Locator to find out the opening times for their nearest branch.
Monday 23 December: 6am – 10pm
Christmas Eve: 6am to 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm
Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 8am – 8pm
You can check the opening times for your local Sainsbury’s store here.
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Asda
Following along the same lines as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, Asda shoppers are being advised to check the Asda Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local store, as different branches are operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.
Here’s a rough guideline:
Monday 23 December: 5am to 10pm
Christmas Eve: 5am – 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 9am – 6pm
Check the opening times for your local ASDA store here.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and more have adjusted their opening hours for the festive period / Credit: Tesco
Morrisons
Morrisons is open throughout the festive season, just like its other competitions, and will only closing on Christmas Day, but hours will vary so you’ll need to check the opening times for your local.
Monday 23 December: 7am – 10pm
Christmas Eve: 5am to 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 9am to 6pm
Check the opening times for your local Morrisons store here.
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Aldi
Aldi stores across the UK are set to close of the three major festive bank holidays this year, meaning doors will be shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, with reduced hours in operation on the days surrounding it.
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Here’s what you need to know:
Monday 23 December: 7am – 10pm
Christmas Eve: 7am – 6pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
Friday 27 & Saturday 28 December: 8am – 8pm
Sunday 29 December: 9.30am – 4pm
Monday 30 December: 8am – 8pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
You can find out more about the supermarket’s decision to shut up shop on the three festive bank holidays this year here.
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Lidl
Lidl has released a list of its festive opening hours, and just like Aldi, will also be closing most of its stores on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, but you’ll want to check Lidl’s website to find out more information.
Just like many other retailers on this list, Co-op’s opening times vary from store to store over the festive period, but the retailer has confirmed it will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day – with all branches closed on Christmas Day across the UK as a standard.
Shoppers are being urged to check the Co-op Store Finder for the opening hours for their nearest branch here.
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M&S
Once again, M&S is another retailer where festive opening hours differ from store to store, so it’s best to check your local branch specifically, but what we do know is that all stores across the UK will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day as a standard.
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Monday 23 December: 6am – 10pm
Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
Friday 27 & Saturday 28 December: 8am – 8pm
Sunday 29 December: 11am – 5pm
Monday 30 December: 8am – 9pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
Check the opening times for your local M&S store here.
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Featured Image – Morrisons
News
Man jailed after robbing and throwing hot coffee over elderly man in Piccadilly Gardens
Emily Sergeant
A man who robbed an elderly man in Piccadilly Gardens earlier this year, leaving him “disoriented”, has now been jailed.
Simon Quest appeared on trial at Bolton Crown Court this week.
The court heard how, on Thursday 6 June 2024, the 37-year-old robbed a man while he was walking through Piccadilly Gardens by following the victim on his bike, throwing a cup of coffee over him which caused him to fall over, and then proceeding to rummage through the victim’s pockets.
Quest managed to steal the victim’s phone before fleeing the area, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained.
Following this shocking incident, a police investigation was launched by detectives within GMP’s ‘Operation Vulcan’ team, and a short while later, Quest was then arrested in Piccadilly Gardens – with police recovering bolt cutters, Mercedes wheel locks, and a man bag from him.
#JAILED | Robber found guilty at trial within 18 minutes following Operation Vulcan investigation
Simon Quest (08/05/1987) of no fixed abode has been jailed for four years and six months for robbery.
“I’d like to thank the members of the public who rushed to help the victim but also stayed at the scene to share witness statements with us, as their assistance and continued support have been crucial to securing this conviction.”
Emily Sergeant -
4th June 2024 
