A shopkeeper was caught storing a haul of potentially deadly fireworks he shouldn't have had near a school and college on Bonfire Night.
Malik Javed had a collection of the explosives in a flat above his shop and also in his van parked outside. A court heard the convenience store on the site of the former Villa Victoria pub, Westmorland Road, Newcastle, is close to a primary school and Newcastle College.
Liam O'Brien, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "Perhaps fitting, this came to light on November 5." The court heard that in October 2020 he applied for a licence to store fireworks and was granted one but only to store 75 kilos of "hazard type four" fireworks, the lowest category of explosives.
