Croydon Council has successfully prosecuted a Selhurst shop owner for selling a vape to a child during a test purchasing exercise.
Sailesh Katelia, the director of Whitehorse Stores Ltd, of 330-334 Whitehorse Road, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company after making the sale, and has been ordered to pay a fine of £2,500, the Council’s costs of £1,959 and a victim surcharge of £1,000, totalling £5,459.
Officers from the Council’s trading standards team conducted a test purchase with a 15-year-old at the shop on 7 November 2024. A vape was sold to the child without ID being requested.
Earlier that year, on 20 August 2024, the business was sent a letter advising of test purchasing within the following three months and offering free training, but the offer was not taken up.
Mr Katelia said he thought the person who bought the vape looked old enough to purchase the vape.
“Making Croydon’s streets cleaner, safer and healthier is my priority and we will continue to take enforcement action where traders breach their legal duties.
“Our trading standards team help make our streets safer for our residents. I hope other businesses will take heed and will work with us to protect children from accessing products they are not old enough to have.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
Businesses can contact the Council if they would like more information to deter underage sales, or for any other trading standards assistance.
If you believe a business is selling age restricted products to underage consumers, you can report it to Citizens Advice Consumer Line on 0808 223 1133 or via email at trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk
