Shop owner fined for selling firework to child

The defendant was running a pop-up fireworks shop in Bradford

A businessman has been fined and told to complete 90 hours of unpaid work after selling a firework to a 16-year-old in Bradford.

Yasir Choudry, 37, was caught in a West Yorkshire Trading Standards sting on 6 November in which a teenager was sold a "Vortex battery of shots" from his pop-up shop, Bang Fireworks on Whetley Lane, Bradford Magistrates' Court heard earlier.

Mohammed Hussain, Choudry's solicitor, said the child was accompanied by a man in his 50s and that he "foolishly" thought it would be OK to sell the pyrotechnic.

Choudry was given a 12-month community order, a fine of £764 and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days when he was sentenced.

The costs have been added to his current debt with the court of £1038.73 for a previous offence.

Choudry had previously pleaded guilty to selling a pyrotechnic article to someone under the age of 18, but on Wednesday asked magistrates if he could change his plea, which was denied.

Mr Hussain said: "The circumstances of the offence are a person who was underage comes to the shop accompanied by an obvious adult, who is probably in his 50s.

"The younger person comes to the counter and asks for a firework."

Mr Hussain said Choudry asked if the two people were together, and that after the child said they were, the firework was sold.

The court heard that the adult was then revealed to be an undercover trading standards officer.

Prosecuting, Waseem Raja said: "Once the sale has been completed and the money has been handed over by the child, as far as the law is concerned he has sold a firework to the child."

Mr Raja said that on 17 October, Choudry had been sent warning letters by West Yorkshire Trading Standards about selling fireworks to children.

"It would have come as no surprise to Mr Choudry to make those checks," Mr Raja said.

Mr Raja urged magistrates that "the message has to go to the good people of Bradford that we are not going to tolerate the sale of fireworks to children".

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