A shopkeeper who sold cigarettes to children has been fined.
Kathirshelvan Kalaginathan, who works at TSK Cash and Carry, in Alexander Avenue, Harrow, was caught selling cigarettes during a test purchasing exercise.
Despite asking the 14-year-old volunteers how old they were, he allowed them to buy the cigarettes – which should not be sold to anyone under the age of 18.
After the sale, Trading Standards officers question Mr Kalaginathan who said he was distracted because he was “on the phone”. He was fined £985 in court.
In another case, a routine inspection of Good Morning Superstore, in Streatfield Road, Harrow, found cigarettes without the correct health warnings.
There were 33 packets of 20 cigarettes, five tobacco pouches and 105 chewing tobacco hidden under the counter.
Owner Amrik Singh Arora claimed he had bought them for £180 from a Sri Lankan man he had never met before. He admitted he hid them because he knew it was illegal and after pleading guilty, was fined £1,221.
