A BRIDGWATER shopkeeper has been ordered to pay more than £3,500 after being caught selling vapes to a 15-year-old girl.

Henri Andre Bitton, of Gemini Vapes in Eastover, admitted making the sale when he appeared at Taunton Magistrates Court on Tuesday (August 13).

The court heard 74-year-old Bitton made the sale in February to the youngster, who was a volunteer taking part in a test purchasing exercise by the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service.

A Trading Standards Officer, who was inside the shop at the time, saw Bitton make the sale without first asking for ID.

After the purchase, the officer showed Bitton a photo of the volunteer, with Bitton saying she was “over 18” and insisting he had “sufficient experience” to identify underage buyers.

He told the court he didn’t realise the volunteer’s age, is blind in one eye and has blurred vision in the other.

But when another customer tried to purchase a vape, the defendant said he “could tell” she was over 18.

The officer disagreed and asked for ID which confirmed she was underage; and it was only at this point that the defendant refused to make the sale.

The court heard Bitton had every opportunity to ask for ID and if the officer hadn’t asked, the sale would have been made.

The chair of the Bench in court said it was “a concerning case” and that the protection and welfare of young people was paramount.

Bitton was ordered to pay £1,200 in fines, costs of £1,880 and a victim surcharge of £480, totalling £3,560.

After the hearing Alex Fry, Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service’s operations manager, said: “The bright colours and sweet flavours of vapes are attracting young people and so it is essential that store owners ensure that they do not sell these products to children.

“Where premises fail test purchase operations, we will take a good look at the measures which were in place before deciding what action to take.

“In this case the owner was given ample opportunity to ask for ID and he did not.

“Those who do not follow the regulations are putting their livelihood at risk and we will take court action where necessary.

“The most effective way to safeguard your businesses is to ask for ID. It’s such a simple thing to do.”

Business in Somerset can sign up for a free ‘No Proof of Age – No Sale (NPOANS)’ Toolkit that provides guidance on how to prevent the illegal sale of age restricted goods and services at www.proofofage.org.uk.