Local Trader Found Guilty of Selling Fireworks and Alcohol to Children
A Bedford shop keeper has been issued with a two year
conditional discharge and ordered to pay £250 costs by Bedford
Magistrates after pleading guilty to selling Fireworks to children.
Mr Sucha Ram, co-owner of The Chocolate Box on Elstow Road in
Bedford sold the fireworks to Trading Standards Volunteers in late
October 2009. The court heard how Mr Ram had also sold alcohol to
other Trading Standards Volunteers on two previous occasions in the
preceding six months and that he had been issued with an £80 Fixed
Penalty Notice by Bedfordshire Police, working in partnership with
Trading Standards Officers, on the second occasion.
The conditional discharge effectively means that should Mr Ram
sell any other age restricted products, such as fireworks,alcohol,
Knives or cigarettes to children within the next 24 months then the
court may sentence Mr Ram for the further offence and the one for
which he just pleaded guilty too. Furthermore Trading Standards
have the discretion to use such offences as evidence to support or
request a review of the premises licence for The Chocolate Box,
whereby they could ask for conditions to be attached, suspension
for a period of up to three months or ultimately revocation of the
licence, therefore preventing the business from selling
alcohol.
Cllr Nick Charsley commented: “Selling fireworks and alcohol to
children is extremely dangerous and irresponsible. Through our
Trading Standards officers and the help of volunteers, we will
deter traders from selling to underage people and make them more
vigilant when selling age restricted products.”