A Surbiton newsagent lost his premises licence after an illegal employee admitted sexually assaulting a child inside the shop.

Ajay Sahye, 42, of Ewell Road, admitted two counts of sexual assault on a girl aged 11 when he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, November 25.

The offences are believed to have taken place between July 1 and November 24 this year at the Londis in Ewell Road.

Sahye, who is Mauritian and had overstayed his visa, was denied bail.

He will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court at a later date.

Kingston Council suspended the licence of the newsagent, Akvinder Singh Mahal, for employing Sahye illegally, but restored the licence yesterday.

An official document on the council website said: "Taking consideration to the fact that earlier this year an illegal worker was discovered at the premises and measures were put in place to ensure that such illegal employment was not repeated, police believe that the standard review proceedings are not appropriate and that immediate steps are needed to be taken to prevent a reoccurrence of serious crime."

It added as result of an “extremely serious incident police have lost faith in the management of the venue".

Councillor Philip Doyle, chairman of the licensing committee, said: “A very serious crime has been committed at these premises and it has been perpetrated by someone being employed illegally.

“RBK takes its licensing responsibilities and the prevention of crime very seriously.”