Alperton store sold alcohol to schoolchild yards away from police station

Shopkeeper fined after 15-year-old sold Smirnoff Ice in trading standards sting

A shopkeeper has been fined after one of his workers sold alcohol to an underage child just yards away from the office of a Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT).

The 15-year-old was able to buy a bottle of Smirnoff ice from Jamie’s Newsagents in Lyon Park Avenue, Alperton, without being challenged about their age.

The shop, which was owned by 48-year-old Aizaz Ahmed at the time, is situated near Alperton SNT’s office in nearby Mount Pleasant.

Last week, Brent Magistrates’ Court heard the teenager was a child volunteer for Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Service (BHTSS) who were carrying out a series of test purchases in local shops.

Ahmed, who lives in South Harrow, was not in the store at the time and the court were told that there was insufficient supervision or training of the employee.

Ahmed admitted breaching the Licensing Act 2003 and was fined �150 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of �500.

Bill Bilon, from BHTSS, said: “Undercover operations such as this are intended to monitor local traders who sell alcohol and other age restricted goods.

“They are effective in establishing which traders comply with the law and those who do not.

“Our aim is to protect children from alcohol and all the complications its consumption brings in people so young.

“This service will continue to carry out such operations and we have little sympathy with those traders who recklessly flout the law.”