Borough Shopkeeper Hit With Second
Conviction In A Year |
14 Dec 2006 |
A South Tyneside shopkeeper has been convicted of
selling alcohol to underage children for the second
time this year.
Kavel Shabilla, the licensee at Gurnams, on Marsden
Road, was fined £750, and ordered to pay £500
costs to South Tyneside Council.
South Tyneside magistrates heard that in November
last year, two policemen were called to Marsden Road,
where they found a 15-year-old boy with a bottle of
cider. The boy informed officers that he had bought
the cider from a shop assistant at Gurnams.
The assistant was given an £80 fixed penalty
notice and the Council twice wrote to Mrs Shabilla
inviting her to attend an interview under caution.
The authority started court proceedings when the 41-year-old
failed to reply.
In addition to the fine, Mrs Shabilla's personal licence
was suspended for 14 days, but this in itself was suspended
pending the outcome of an appeal from her solicitor.
Councillor Michael Clare, Lead Member Environment,
Housing and Transport, said: "We will not tolerate
the sale of alcohol to underage children. Not only
does it harm our children, it is the root of all sorts
of problems, most notably, anti-social behaviour. This
conviction sends out a clear message to retailers that
we will take action wherever we come across this unacceptable
behaviour.
"Tackling anti-social behaviour is one of our
top priorities and the hard work of our Trading Standards
and Legal Services teams is helping us to crack down
on underage sales of alcohol, which is a big factor
in the problem."
In June this year, Mrs Shabilla was convicted of selling
alcohol to underage children following a Council-led
test purchase operation carried out at her store in
response to complaints about underage drinking in the
area. A 14-year-old girl bought alcohol from Mrs Shabilla's
daughter, Luckie, who did not ask the girl her age,
or for any form of identification.
And in May 2004, Mrs Shabilla admitted selling £42
worth of alcohol to a 15-year-old boy, despite having
doubts about the validity of his fake ID card.
Anyone with information about alcohol being sold illegally
to children should contact the confidential hotline
number 0800 093 5878.
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