Croydon Council has successfully prosecuted a Selhurst shop owner for selling a vape to a child during a test purchasing exercise.

Sailesh Katelia, the director of Whitehorse Stores Ltd pleaded guilty after making the sale.

He was ordered to pay a fine of £2,500, the Council’s costs of nearly £2000 and a victim surcharge of £1,000, totalling nearly £5,500.

A test purchase with a 15-year-old child took place in November last year resulting in a vape being sold without a request for ID’