A WHITTON shopkeeper has been fined £500 after one of his workers sold cigarettes to a 15-year-old boy.

The ironically-named Mohammed Kamran Butt, who owns the Ask Local/Nisa grocers in Whitton High Street, was caught out in a sting operation run by Richmond Council.

Mr Butt, of Bradfield Drive, Barking, was found guilty at Richmond Magistrates' Court on May 26 of under-age selling. As well as the fine, he was ordered to pay the council's costs of £935 and a £15 victim surcharge.

His employee Waqas Anwar sold a packet of 10 Marlboro cigarettes to the youngster last October, who was working with the council to flush out shops selling tobacco and alcohol to children.

Mr Butt told council officers Mr Anwar had only started work that day and had not yet received training in the sale of age-restricted goods. He claimed he had told the shop assistant not to sell cigarettes or alcohol to children but had not advised him to check identification.

Councillor Virginia Morris, Richmond Council's cabinet Member for environment and planning, said: "Selling cigarettes to children is seriously detrimental to their long-term health and Mr Butt should know better than to let untrained staff work alone on the shop floor. This sentence reflects the seriousness which the court attaches to protecting the health of our young people, and this is echoed by the council."

For more advice on complying with under-age sales restrictions, traders can call Trading Standards in Richmond on 020 8487 5487 or Hounslow on 020 8583 5555.