A Battersea shopkeeper who failed to stub out his habit of selling cigarettes to children has been given a £1,000 fine.
Vipul Patel, who runs Condell newsagents on Condell Road, has twice been caught out by Wandsworth’s Trading Standards team.
Mr Patel was warned in March when a 15-year-old boy was able to buy a pack of 10 cigarettes as part of an enforcement operation.
He received a formal caution and attended a training course.
However in just over two months he was again discovered to be selling to children during another operation.
“Mr Patel has learnt a very expensive lesson about the penalties for flagrantly disregarding the law,” said Councillor Jonathon Cook.
“It is vital that that harmful products like alcohol and cigarettes do not get into the hands of children.”
As well as paying the fine, Mr Patel has also been ordered to cough up £1,281 in costs.
It has been illegal to sell cigarettes to children under 18 year since 2007.
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