A shop has been hit with its second huge fine in a year after it illegally sold lighter gas to a 15-year-old in a sting operation.

Supersave Household, in Cricklewood Broadway, was caught when Brent Council Trading Standards officers sent an under-age teenage volunteer into the premises to make the purchase.

The volunteer was able to purchase the 300ml can of lighter gas refill without the cashier asking for any ID to prove their age.

Supersave Household pleaded guilty at a subsequent hearing at Willesden Magistrates Court.

The shop was ordered to pay more than £4,500 for the offence.

Brent Council's cabinet member for safer communities and public protection, Cllr Harbi Farah, called it “another great example” of the work done by the council's Trading Standards team.

 

Lighter gas refill, Cricklewood. The shop pleaded guilty to selling the 300ml gas can without asking for proof of age. Image: Brent Council

Lighter gas refill, Cricklewood. The shop pleaded guilty to selling the 300ml gas can without asking for proof of age. Image: Brent Council

 

He added: “It is so important that laws like these are upheld as they not only protect our young people, but also make sure that all residents feel safe in the knowledge that these items are not being sold to youngsters.”

This is the second offence the shop has been charged with this year, having already been fined more than £3,000 in March after pleading guilty to selling a knife to an under-age teenager. In August 2022, another teenage volunteer had bought a 23cm knife without being asked for ID, according to Brent Council. 

The magistrates stated that this was a serious crime but took the guilty plea into consideration. The company was ordered to pay a total of £3,175.99 for the offence: £1,500 for the incident, as well as being ordered to pay the council’s legal costs of £1,075.99 and a victim surcharge of £600.