The 42-year-old woman was charged with one count of selling or publicly exhibiting films classified X 18-plus or refused classification.

It comes after a raid on the Miller Street adult shop on the morning of May 3, when police seized 61 DVDs on display in the store marked as X 18-plus.

The DVDs were taken to Armidale Police Station and were due to be sent to the NSW Classification Review Board.

Detective-Sergeant Matthew Crotty said police investigations led them to believe the DVDs in question were illegal for sale in NSW.

“Following police inquiries regarding the nature of these DVDs, including interviews with the owner of the store, we believe the DVDs are X 18-plus and refused classification and have laid charges,” he said. “The owner of the store will now face court to answer those charges.”

The woman will face Armidale Local Court on

July 23.

The adult shop, which opened earlier this year, has been the subject of controversy in recent months.

There have been investigations into potential links between the shop and outlaw motorcycle gangs, while the community remains divided over whether or not it is acceptable for such a store to be based in Armidale.

- Stephen Jeffery