Bradford shopkeepers fined after selling cigarettes to 13 year old
They were caught after an undercover operation by Yorkshire Trading Standards
A 13-YEAR-old was sold cigarettes at a Bradford shop during an undercover operation – a court has heard.
The illegal sale was made at the Pound Saver store on Southfield Lane in May, after West Yorkshire Trading Standards had received intelligence that the business was selling cigarettes to children.
On Monday Mohammad Harun Seddighi and Nazi Seddighi appeared at Kirklees Magistrates Court to answer charges relating to the illegal sale.
They both pleaded guilty to offences under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, which makes it illegal for shops to sell tobacco to minors.
Magistrates issued both Mr and Mrs Seddighi with fines of £80 each. They were both also ordered to pay victim surcharges of £32 and costs of £500, totalling £612 for each.
The court heard that in May 2024, a 13-year-old volunteer entered the shop under the supervision of a Trading Standards Officer and asked to buy cigarettes. The seller sold a packet of 20 Benson and Hedges cigarettes to the volunteer for £13.50, without asking for identification or challenging her age.
Both Mr and Mrs Seddighi were interviewed at a later date, where they took full responsibility for the sale and said that they were both aware that cigarettes carried a minimum age restriction. Seddighi has said he has since sold the shop.
David Strover, Trading Standards Manager – Business Services Team, said, “The flagrant sale of cigarettes to children should not be happening within our communities.
“We wrote to this business to make them aware of complaints we had received and informed them a test purchase may follow. The health risks associated with tobacco are considerable and shops need to ensure they have systems in place to avoid selling tobacco to minors.
“Trading Standards will continue to investigate allegations and make test purchases to reduce the prevalence of this issue. I would like to thank all the partners and members of the public for reporting illegal sales and encourage everyone to continue doing so to reduce the harm caused by tobacco in our communities.”
Councillor Sue Duffy, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee, which oversees the work of Trading Standards said “It is clearly irresponsible not to check the age of teenage customers wanting to purchase age restricted goods. Test purchases are undertaken regularly by Trading Standards staff to ensure shops adhere to the law on tobacco, e-cigarette and alcohol sales. The simple task of asking for identification and verifying the age of younger customers will help to reduce underage tobacco use.”
Consumers wishing to report illegal trading practices, including the sale of age restricted goods to children can call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 to report their concerns – this can be done anonymously.