A couple who illegally sold vapes to a 15-year-old boy at their shop in Hammersmith have been hit with fines and costs totalling more than £4,000.
Himanshu Bhatia and his wife Poona Chandna pleaded guilty to a string of offences after their vape and mobile phone shop in King Street was investigated by Hammersmith & Fulham Council's Trading Standards officers.
On four separate dates between March and December 2023, Bhatia, 31, was caught selling illegal vapes. Despite being given official warnings to stop, he continued to trade, concealing the contraband in a car outside his Mobile & Vape shop at 229c King Street.
Two vapes, including one with an e-liquid capacity nine times the legally permitted maximum, were sold to a 15-year-old boy working with Trading Standards officers. The law bans sale of nicotine vapes to under 18s.
After missing several court appearances, Bhatia was arrested at Heathrow Airport. Chandna, 28, then surrendered herself at court. Bhatia's address was given as Dane Road, Southall, while Chandna's address was given as Chatsworth Crescent, Hounslow.
Guilty pleas
At Westminster Magistrates' Court Bhatia admitted five charges of supplying illegal vapes, and one of underage sale. He was fined £270 for each offence and was ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge, bringing the total to £3,068.
Chandna pleaded guilty to supplying an oversized vape and selling two nicotine vapes to the underage volunteer and was ordered to pay a total of £956 in fines, surcharge and costs.
Bhatia's trading company, Vconnect369 Ltd, has been dissolved, and the couple's Mobile & Vape shop has closed.
Justice done
H&F Trading Standards officer Doug Love, who led the investigation, was pleased to see the defendants convicted, but questioned whether the sentences were sufficient to deter others.
"Given the repeated offences, the refusal to follow advice, the concealment of the illegal vapes to attempt to avoid detection and the willingness to sell them to a 15-year-old, I'm disappointed stiffer sentences weren't handed down," he said outside court.
Cllr Rebecca Harvey, H&F Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety, praised the work of Trading Standards officers in bringing the traders to court. She added:
H&F Council supports honest businesses – and we do all we can to ensure the health and wellbeing and safety of all our residents and visitors to the borough.
Our brilliant team of trading standards officers act fast to take action against those who flagrantly ignore the law and endanger the health and wellbeing of our residents."
