Shop owner handed heavy fine for underage vape sales

A Leigh shop owner has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 following the illegal sale of a vape to a child.

Mehboob Noormahmad Vaid pleaded guilty at a court hearing following a Wigan Council trading standards investigation.

His Super Save Store business is located on Bradshawgate in Leigh town centre. Greater Manchester Police helped to bring the matter to the courts after the sale was witnessed by a police officer on August 5, 2025.

A hearing at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court heard that the business owner had left an untrained friend in charge of the shop at the time of the sale, although he admitted full responsibility for the incident.

Councillor Kevin Anderson, portfolio holder for Police, Crime and Civil Contingencies, said: “This prosecution is the latest example of Trading Standards taking action against businesses that break the law.

“Trading Standards will continue to investigate any businesses selling age restricted products, such as vapes, to children.

“We will continue to work with partners and take action to help keep our communities, and particularly children, safe.

“This tough approach serves as a deterrent to other shops which do not be adhere to their responsibilities to not sell such products illegally to children.”

Following the conviction, it was explained that Mr Vaid has since implemented staff training and also has a refusals book and posters relating to age restricted products.

Taking the submissions and mitigation into consideration, magistrates ordered the defendant to pay a total of £1,146.50. This figure is totalled from a £400 fine, £160 victim surcharge, and associated costs of £586.50.

Anyone wishing to report underage sales can contact Trading Standards.