Two men have been sentenced for the sale of vapes to a child under the legal age to purchase of 18, and the possession of non-compliant vapes on two separate occasions.
The sentencing of Kaywan Hassan, of Darlington Court, Widnes, trading as High Street Store Ltd, 8 High Street, Runcorn, and Mohammed Mohammadi, of Lime Grove, Toxteth, Liverpool, took place on Wednesday 31 July at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.
Both Hassan, and the limited company High Street Off Licence Ltd, pleaded guilty on all eight charges against them. The case against Mohammadi was heard in his absence and, subsequently, he was found guilty of all eight charges. Hassan was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,253, and Mohammadi was ordered to pay £1,389, with full payment in 28 days.
The sale to the child in October 2023, led to the seizure of 434 non-compliant vapes from the premises in November. After receiving further intelligence, trading standards officers attended the premises again in May 2024, and a further 700 non-compliant vapes were seized – despite the defendants having a pending court trial for the same offence.
With this case, Halton Trading Standards Service were particularly concerned the trader was selling vapes to children, and as such swiftly acted upon the intelligence received. A spokesperson for the service confirmed: “We are increasingly seeing retailers targeting children and openly selling vapes to them – the children are often as young as 11 years of age and in school uniform.
“We would like to thank those residents who alerted us to this retailer and would strongly urge anyone with information relating to the sale of vapes, cigarettes and alcohol to children, to report this to trading standards. Your support is vital in helping us to remove these traders from Halton.
“Halton Trading Standards will continue to pro-actively target traders, whether they sell via the high street, or online social media accounts like Facebook. With a clear warning that sellers will face criminal enforcement action when they are caught. Furthermore, sellers should consider the impact a criminal conviction will have on their private lives – their employment prospects, their ability to get holiday visas and their reputation with their neighbours and their community.”
Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones, the Council’s portfolio holder for Trading Standards, added: “We have a duty to protect the health of residents in Halton and so it is important that we prosecute those involved in the sale of underage products, like vapes to children.
“Trading Standards will continue to investigate and take enforcement action to ensure that the children of Halton are protected from harm, and ensure that they can grow up to live longer and healthier lives.”
If you have any information involving the sale of under age products to children then you can report it, anonymously if you wish, via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.
Or, if you have any information specifically relating to the sale of counterfeit/illicit cigarettes or alcohol then you can telephone the Halton Trading Standards Hotline for Alcohol and Tobacco on 0151 511 8787.
This is a reporting voicemail facility only and any information provided can be left anonymously, however, please provide enough information to identify those involved, and if you want feedback your contact details too. Remember, all other Trading Standards matters can be reported in the usual manner by contacting 0808 223 1133, as above.