Three Merthyr Tydfil shops prosecuted for selling cigarettes to a 15-year-old

Three local shops in Merthyr Tydfil have been prosecuted for selling cigarettes to an underage volunteer.

In April and May of this year the three shop owners were prosecuted following test operations run by the Council’s Trading Standards, where they were found to have sold cigarettes to a 15-year-old volunteer.

Clover Road Stores Limited, operating from Clover Road, Gurnos pleaded guilty by post and was fined a total of £500, with a victim surcharge of £200 plus £460.50 costs.

Karalasingam Pirapathan of The Trading Post, Galon Uchaf Road pleaded guilty and was fined a total of £500, with a victim surcharge of £200 plus £480 costs.

Malcolm Brown of The Corner Shop, 1 Cross Street, Aberfan pleaded guilty and was fined a total of £273, with a victim surcharge of £109 plus £260 costs.

In each case the court was told that the sales were witnessed by a Trading Standards Officer, and on each occasion the volunteer was sold the cigarettes without being challenged for I.D.

Craig Rushton, the Council’s Trading Standards Team Leader, said: “It was disappointing that the three shops sold cigarettes to our underage volunteer without challenging for I.D. We will continue to act against those who break the law and sell tobacco to minors.”

Councillor Michelle Symonds, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: “It is wholly unacceptable for these shops to have broken the law by selling cigarettes to a 15-year-old.

“I applaud the work the Council’s Trading Standards team are doing and I encourage the public to report any traders that they believe are selling cigarettes to under 18’s”.

If you know of any shops that illegally sell tobacco products to those underage, you can report them online at:
merthyr.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/report-a-trading-standards-issue