TWO individuals and a business have been prosecuted over the sale of a vape to a child.

A joint prosecution was brought against High Street Store Ltd, on High Street in Runcorn, and Kaywan Hassan.

The firm and the 46-year-old director of the business, whose address on court documents was Darlington Court in Widnes, saw their case heard before Warrington Magistrates’ Court.

Each were charged with and admitted a charge of selling a nicotine product to a person under 18, as well as seven charges of supplying a product that did not comply with regulation.

A third defendant, 23-year-old Mohammed Mohammadi, of Brindley Street in Runcorn, was also charged solely with selling a nicotine product to a person under 18.

The prosecutions were brought about following an investigation by Halton Borough Council.

On October 31 last year, a Hayati Pro Max 4000 cherry cola flavoured disposable vape was sold in Runcorn to a person aged under 18.

That same day, it was found that electronic cigarettes were being supplied that did not comply with regulation 36 of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.

This was due to the volume of the nicotine-containing liquid in the tank exceeding two millilitres.

A further seven occurrences of the same charge were admitted by Hassan and High Street Store Ltd relating to an incident on November 20 last year.

Halton Borough Council confirmed that the sale to the child in October 2023 led to the seizure of 434 non-compliant vapes from the premises in November. 

After receiving further intelligence, trading standards officers attended the premises again in May 2024, and a further 700 non-compliant vapes were seized – despite the defendants having a pending court trial for the same offence.    

Hassan was ordered to pay a total of £2,253, broken down into a fine of £895, court costs of £1,000 and a statutory surcharge of £358.

An order was approved for electronic cigarettes seized during the investigation to be forfeited and destroyed.

For the sole vape sale charge, the case against Mohammadi was found proven in his absence.

He was told he must pay £1,389, including a £660 fine, court costs of £465 and a surcharge of £264.

A council spokesman said: "With this case, Halton Trading Standards were particularly concerned the trader was selling vapes to children, and as such swiftly acted upon the intelligence received. 

"We are increasingly seeing retailers targeting children and openly selling vapes to them. The children are often as young as 11 and in school uniform. 

"We would like to thank those residents who alerted us to this retailer and would strongly urge anyone with information relating to the sale of vapes, cigarettes and alcohol to children, to report this to trading standards.  Your support is vital in helping us to remove these traders from Halton.

"Halton Trading Standards will continue to proactively target traders, whether they sell via the high street, or online social media accounts like Facebook, with a clear warning that sellers will face criminal enforcement action when they are caught.

"Furthermore, sellers should consider the impact a criminal conviction will have on their private lives, their employment prospects, their ability to get holiday visas and their reputation with their neighbours and their community."

Cllr Martha Lloyd Jones, the council's portfolio holder for Trading Standards, added: "We have a duty to protect the health of residents in Halton, and so it is important that we prosecute those involved in the sale of underage products, like vapes to children. 

"Trading Standards will continue to investigate and take enforcement action to ensure that the children of Halton are protected from harm, and ensure that they can grow up to live longer and healthier lives."

If you have any information involving the sale of under-age products to children then you can report it, anonymously if you wish, via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. 

Or, if you have any information specifically relating to the sale of counterfeit/illicit cigarettes or alcohol then you can telephone the Halton Trading Standards Hotline for Alcohol and Tobacco on  0151 511 8787. 

This is a reporting voicemail facility only and any information provided can be left anonymously, however, please provide enough information to identify those involved, and if you want feedback your contact details too. 

All other Trading Standards matters can be reported in the usual manner by contacting 0808 223 1133, as above.