Himanshu Bhatia and Poona Chandna have been fined over £4,000 for selling illegal vapes to minors from their Hammersmith store. After an investigation by Hammersmith & Fulham's Trading Standards, Bhatia was found guilty of selling vapes, including one with excessive e-liquid capacity, to a 15-year-old volunteer. Despite warnings, he continued trading unlawfully and was later arrested. The couple, whose store has since closed and company dissolved, received collective fines of over £4,000, raising concerns about whether the penalties are substantial enough to deter similar cases in the future.
"Given the repeated offences, the refusal to follow advice, the concealment of the illegal vapes to attempt to avoid detection and the willingness to sell them to a 15-year-old, I'm disappointed stiffer sentences weren't handed down."
"Bhatia, of Dane Road, Southall, was later arrested at Heathrow Airport after missing several court appearances."
"Chandna pleaded guilty to supplying an oversized vape and selling two nicotine vapes to the underage volunteer and was ordered to pay a total of 956 in fines, surcharge and costs."
"Bhatia admitted five charges of supplying illegal vapes, and one of underage sale... bringing the total to 3,068."
Collection
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