2012 Review: May

May started on a downer for Stokies when Etruria nuclear power station exploded, leading to the deaths of over half of Stoke's population. A powerful tribute graffiti mural has been painted at the site of Stoke's newest nuclear power station in Trent Vale to those who tragically lost their lives.

Meanwhile, local computer hacker Tez Littledyke won his high profile extradition case at Fenton Magistrates Court. The Scottish Assembly had wanted him extradited to the country after he hacked into their website and accessed information such as the secret ingredients for Irn Bru and Scotland's WMD capabilities.

Off Licences Warned Over Underage Sales

Two Booze Heaven off-licences have been caught selling too much alcohol to underage customers as part of a police operation. The stores in Middleport and Trent Vale were subject to licence reviews yesterday after a police sting to catch retailers red-handed.

At the store in Condom Road, Trent Vale, neighbourhood police carried out a test purchase in November and a 17-year-old girl bought 12 bottles of wine. The shop also sold a 16-year-old 36 bottles of WKD.

Middleport Young Conservatives

PC Barry Shanks, of Staffordshire Police, said: "This is way too much booze to sell to someone underage. One or two bottles of wine is fine, as is 5 or 6 bottles of WKD, but this was too much."

Paul Sheepdog, a spokesman for Booze Heaven, said: "This sale was a genuine mistake not an example of flouting the law. The book should not be thrown at retailers, they should be given a medal."

Chairman of the licensing sub-committee, Jim Glimp said: "We have permanently modified the conditions on the licences to include those agreed. Any further appearance before this committee could lead to an angry letter."