City shopkeeper collared after flogging cherry elf bar to girl, 15, in school uniform

A city centre shop owner has been fined after being caught selling a disposable vape to a schoolgirl.

Arif Patel runs Eero News Ltd in Orchard Street, Preston, and was known to Trading Standards at the time of the sale. At 3:50pm on October 30, 2023, a 15-year-old girl, wearing a local school uniform, visited the shop and asked for a cherry elf bar.

Patel sold her the vape without asking her age or checking for any ID.

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But Preston magistrates heard the teenager was a test purchaser, working undercover for Lancashire Trading Standards. Immediately after the sale, officers entered the shop and informed Patel he had just made a sale to an underage girl.

The sale of vapes to anyone under the age of 18 is banned under the Nicotine Inhaling Products Regulations 2015, and carries a maximum fine of £2,500.

Patel pleaded guilty to selling a nicotine inhaling product to a person under 18 on behalf of himself and Euro News Ltd.

Imrad Majid, defending, said: "When the girl reached the front of the queue the defendant didn't fully see that she was in uniform because of the position of the counter. But the defendant accepts that she was a very young girl and that he should have challenged her.

"He is terribly sorry for what has happened."

The chair of the bench said: "The regulations are there to protect young people. You have not been diligent enough."

Magistrates fined Patel £250 and ordered him to pay £250 costs. The business, Euro News Ltd was ordered to pay £513 plus £355 in surcharge and costs.