17 June 2010
A woman has been taken to court and fined for selling cigarettes to a 15-year-old in Caerphilly county borough.
Mrs Carol Edwards, who runs the Premier Stores at Blackwood Bus Station, was the subject of a test purchase by Caerphilly County Borough Council's Trading Standards team in February 2010, following complaints from local residents and businesses of alleged underage sales.
Mrs Edwards, an experienced trader, sold a 15-year-old girl 20 Lambert and Butler cigarettes during the test purchase, despite an age restricted sales prompt flashing up on the till during the sale.
The case was heard at Abertillery Magistrates Court recently (8th June 2010) – Mrs Edwards did not attend court therefore the case was proven in her absence. She was ordered to pay a total of £967.29, including a fine of £525, costs of £427.29 and a victim surcharge of £15.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said, "Selling age restricted items to children is completely irresponsible, and is an offence which our Trading Standards officers are committed to tackling."
"Smoking is a leading cause of premature death and illness in Wales, so it is vital that we do not allow tobacco and other age restricted products to get into the hands of our youngsters".
She continued, "It is pleasing that the court has emphasised the seriousness of this offence by the fine it has imposed."
Between April 2009 and April 2010, Caerphilly County Borough Council's Trading Standards team took forward a total of 7 prosecutions for the underage sale of age-restricted items.
For further information, please call Trading Standards on 01495 235 291.
- Return to News