Shop boss admits selling firework to 16-year-old
Yasir Mukhtar Choudry pleaded guilty to one charge at Bradford Magistrates' Court
- Published
The boss of a Bradford shop has admitted selling a firework to a 16-year-old during last year's Bonfire season.
Yasir Mukhtar Choudry, 37, pleaded guilty to selling a pyrotechnic article to someone under the age of 18 at Bradford Magistrates' Court.
Choudry owned Bang Fireworks, a pop-up shop based in a shipping container on Whetley Lane in the city.
He had denied the offence and was due to stand trial on Wednesday, but changed his plea at the start of proceedings.
The court was told complaints about the shop selling to underage customers prompted Trading Standards to send a letter to the business last October.
Trading Standards officers carried out a test purchase at the store the following month, during which a 16-year-old was sold a "Vortex battery of shots."
Prosecutor Waseem Raja said the teenager was not asked to produce any ID.
Trading Standards officers had written to the store before conducting a test purchase operation, the court heard
It is illegal to sell a firework to anyone under the age of 18.
In mitigation, Choudry's solicitor blamed the incident on a "misunderstanding" and said he had sold the firework because he believed the child was accompanied by the Trading Standards officer.
It was said he asked the teenager "Is that elderly gentleman with you?", to which the customer replied, "Yes".
Choudry, of Duchy Crescent in Bradford, will be sentenced on 10 September, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.