Red Power faces charges after selling a vape to a minor

Red Power Market Ltd, in Minster Street, pleaded guilty at Salisbury Magistrates Court to selling a disposable vape to a 15-year-old Wiltshire Council trading standards volunteer.

The seller failed to request proof of age, despite the legal age limit for the sale of e-cigarettes being 18 and over.

At the hearing, held on Monday, September 23, the business owner was issued with a fine of £500 and ordered to pay other costs of £956.42.

Since opening in October 2023, Red Power Ltd has also been the subject of three separate seizures of illegal tobacco and vape products. 

On November 10, 2023, Red Power was raided by Trading Standards where more than 1,000 illicit vapes were seized.

These raids came after an investigation by a reporter at the Journal  where the business sold illegal vapes without asking for identification.

Cabinet member for environment councillor Dominic Muns said: “This second court hearing for Red Power Market Ltd relates to the sale of a vape product to a child. Unfortunately, we have seen an increase in the number of complaints of vaping products being sold to children.

The owner appeared in court on September 23 (Image: NQ)

READ MORE: Wiltshire Council further investigating illegal vapes

"With these types of products regularly being sold at pocket money prices, manufactured in bright colours and sweet enticing flavours, young people find them attractive.

“Our advice to all retailers selling these types of products is to train their staff and implement systems to prevent the sale of such items to children under the age of 18. They should also be aware of the potential consequences if they fail to take adequate precautions.

“Officers had previously visited to advise the retailers how to prevent underaged sales prior to the test purchase being carried out, meaning that this further action was taken.

READ MORE: Red Power vape shop forced to close after 'criminal activity'

"I want to thank our trading services team for their diligence and perseverance in this case to achieve these results and showing that we are acting on our Business Plan commitment to safeguard our residents from harm and tackle businesses that aren’t complying with the law.”

A three-month closure order for the store was granted in August, following an application under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, by Wiltshire Council trading standards officers. 

At a previous hearing, business owner Niaz Ali did not attend court, and instead sent an email in which he said he is "certainly not guilty of selling any illegal counterfeit substances".