A south Liverpool newsagent has to pay more than £1,000 after being caught selling single cigarettes to underage children.
Mohammed Jafar of Lark Lane's Britannia Stores pleaded guilty to two offences at Liverpool Magistrate's Court today after one of his employees was found to have sold loose cigarettes to kids earlier this year.
Mr Jafar was fined £400 for each offence, which took place on 20th February and saw the sale of two JPS Player cigarettes to kids in the shop.
He was charged with selling tobacco to children under 18 as well as supplying cigarettes in breach of packing regulations.
According to council officers, he had previously pleaded not guilty to the offences on the grounds that he wasn't present for the first cigarette sale and did not carry out the second one to completion.
However he later changed his plea after council officers warned that he had liability as the owner of the premises.
As well as the separate £400 fines for each offence, the Judge awarded £250 costs and a victim surcharge of £40, meaning Mr Jafar will have to pay £1,090 in total.
The employee who carried out the sales had previously pleaded guilty by post, having said he did ask for ID from the child but then continued the sale anyway.
He was fined £145, with a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £369 payable to the council.
