HEFTY fines await shopkeepers who sell restricted goods to under-age shoppers.

That was the warning from Bexley Council’s senior trading standards officer Stephen Challis, after three shopkeepers were successfully prosecuted for illegally selling alcohol and fireworks to youngsters.

Craig Sohn, owner of Bettabuys, in Halfway Street, Sidcup, was fined £400 and ordered to pay £400 costs by Bexley Magistrates’ Court after being convicted of selling fireworks to a 15-year-old.

Dinesh Patel, owner of the Popin Shop, in Bexley Road, Erith, and his assistant Chahiti Patel were also each fined £400 with £400 costs at Bexley Magistrates’ Court, for selling fireworks to a 15-year-old.

Both incidents occurred in October last year.

During an Operation Keepsafe sweep, in the same month, the Costcutter shop, in Bellegrove Road, Welling, was caught selling alcohol to a 14-year-old. Licensee Ahmet Dur and assistant Mohammed Ali Dur were each fined £300 with £200 costs.

Bexley Council cabinet member for the environment Councillor Joel Briant said: “Selling such items to under-age children is definitely a problem in Bexley but it is one we are determined to clamp down on.”