A DORCHESTER shopkeeper has admitted ‘simply making a mistake’ after selling alcohol to a 14-year-old girl during a Trading Standards sting.
John Douglas Warsany, 64, pleaded guilty to selling alcohol to the teenager on December 17, 2008, at his shop, Tree Stores, in Warmwell Road, Crossways.
Prosecuting for Trading Standards, divisional manager Paul Carter said in a joint operation with Dorset Police, tests were carried out on 10 licensed premises in West Dorset and Purbeck.
Weymouth magistrates heard that Tree Stores was the only premises to sell the alcohol, despite operating a Challenge 21 policy and displaying a ‘No ID, No Sale’ sign on the door.
Mr Carter said Warsany was licence holder and premises supervisor and sold two bottles of 275ml Bacardi Breezer to the under-age girl.
He said: “At no time during the sale was she questioned about her age or asked for identification.”
In interview, Warsany said he attended a course 10 years earlier but had taken no further training. He said he had familiarised himself with the law and also introduced the Challenge 21 policy, under which staff would ask for identification if anyone looked under 21.
Warsany, representing himself, said he was responsible for staff training, although there was no refresher training, but he had given them leaflets when the law changed.
Mr Carter said: “He said he used his own judgement by the way they act, if they look nervous, the way they are dressed, and if they were in a group of people. He admitted this time he had made a mistake.”
Warsany said: “There are no arguments – I did it.”
He added: “I simply made a mistake because I didn’t look carefully. Because of the clothes she wore I genuinely thought she was an office worker.”
Warsany denied receiving any advisory literature from Trading Standards before the test, but said he had received it since.
He said: “I have subsequently re-trained all the staff using the material they have provided.
“Trading is very difficult at the moment. It is a small village store, it is vulnerable like all village stores and I would hate to see it close.”
Magistrates ordered Warsany to pay a £300 fine, £300 costs, and a £15 victim surcharge.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Carter said: “It is a warning to other traders that they do need to be vigilant in selling alcohol to underage children. They have to be vigilant in asking for identification because it is a serious matter, and it is not only serious in that they get a fine, it also contributes to anti-social behaviour.”
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