A shop owner will stand trial over claims that he bought stolen sweets from thieves - which he used to top up his stock.
Ranjith Ratnasingam, who runs Shields Off Licence in North Shields, appeared in court on Wednesday to deny the allegations.
Ratnasingam is accused of buying stolen chocolate worth £7.
The 31-year-old pleaded not guilty through an interpreter at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to a charge of handling stolen goods.
He will now stand trial - while he also faces a fight to keep his licence for the store.
The alleged offence came to light following a tip-off Northumbria Police that Ratnasingam had bought chocolate from "a known shoplifter" on August 20.
In court, prosecutor Claire Irving claimed the aim was "to sell them on for a profit".
However, Ratnasingam denied the charge.
The defendant, of Saville Street West, previously appeared in court on October 15 but the case was adjourned as no translator was available.
He will now stand trial back at the same court on January 24.
The hearing is expected to last three hours.
He will also appear before North Tyneside Council's Licencing Committee over the allegations, a hearing scheduled to take place last week was adjourned due to the ongoing court case.
