The owners of a Rhymney shop have been prosecuted and stripped of their licence after selling alcohol to underage teens during a test purchase operation.
Husband and wife David John Harris and Karen Louise Harris, who trade as Spike’s Shop, Brynteg Crescent, Rhymney, appeared before Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court on June 11,
They were each fined £180 for the offence of selling alcohol to a 16-year-old boy, and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £400 each to the council, along with a victim surcharge of £15.
No additional penalty was ordered for the second offence of selling alcohol to a 15 year old girl.
The prosecution came after a joint test purchase operation carried out by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards, Community Safety Wardens and Gwent Police on March 3 2011.
Karen Harris, the Premises Licence Holder and Designated Premises Supervisor had previously been convicted at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court in July 2010, following a sale to an underage child in March 2010 after a test purchase exercise. On this occasion she was fined £525 and ordered to pay costs of £357.45.
Since that conviction, both police and Trading Standards had received complaints that alcohol was still being sold to children.
Cllr Dave Poole, cabinet member for community and leisure services, said: “The tireless efforts of our Trading Standards team, along with our colleagues at Gwent Police and our team of Community Safety Wardens, ensure our children do not have access to alcohol, protecting them from harm, while also safeguarding local residents from the anti social behaviour and crime caused by under age drinking.
“Licence holders have a responsibility to check the identification of any purchaser who looks under age. I hope this successful prosecution sends out a clear message to the very small minority of licence holders who fail to take their licensing responsibilities seriously, that they will not get away with it.”
PC Ryan Hill, ward officer for Rhymney, said: “This is an excellent result achieved through partnership working to tackle the problem of antisocial behaviour in Rhymney.
“Many of the issues were believed to have been linked to this premises resulting in drunken youths causing problems on and around the High Street in Rhymney. Since this operation was carried out calls to the police have reduced dramatically. Police are continuing patrols in the area, particularly on weekends, and will deal positively with any persons causing problems.”
In addition to bringing the prosecution against Mr and Mrs Harris, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team also sought a review of the licence held by Karen Harris to sell alcohol.
This review took place on December 13, 2011 with the council’s Licensing Sub Committee revoked Harris’ Licence to sell alcohol.