Shopkeepers fined after cigarettes sold to child

The illegal sale was made at the Pound Saver Shop on Southfield Lane in May

Two shopkeepers who sold cigarettes to a child have been fined, a court has heard.

The 13-year-old girl went into the Pound Saver Shop on Southfield Lane in Bradford as part of an undercover Trading Standards operation in May.

She brought a packet of 20 Benson and Hedges cigarettes without being challenged or asked to show evidence of her age.

On Monday, Mohammad Harun Seddighi and Nazi Seddighi pleaded guilty to offences under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 at Kirklees Magistrates Court.

Mr and Mrs Seddighi were both ordered to pay an £80 fine, as well as a victim surcharge of £32 and costs of £500, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The court heard West Yorkshire Trading Standards had set up the operation after they received intelligence that the business was selling cigarettes to children.

After the cigarettes were sold to the girl, both Mr and Mrs Seddighi were interviewed and took full responsibility.

They said they were both aware that cigarettes carried a minimum age restriction.

Mr Seddighi said he had since sold the shop.

'Complaints received'

David Strover, manager at West Yorkshire Trading Standards, 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."

He said shops needed to "ensure they have systems in place to avoid selling tobacco to minors".

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