A DIY store has been slapped with a £10,000 fine after selling a knife to a 16-year-old.

Bosses of Sydenhams Limited appeared in the dock of Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday.

It was after an underage volunteer from Oxfordshire County Council purchased a Stanley knife from the Abingdon branch on January 21.

The head of Oxfordshire’s Trading Standards said that officers had gone into shops to give advice on selling age-restricted products and let managers know that test purchases would be carried out.

At court the mitigation counsel stated the company had no previous convictions in almost 150 years of trading and that it was a ‘mistake’ made by an otherwise exemplary employee.

The company was fined £15,000 reduced to £10,000 for an early guilty plea.

It must also pay the council’s full costs of £1,400 and a £1,000 victim surcharge.

Jody Kerman, the head of the council’s department said: “On this occasion, despite this advice being provided, a sale was still made and when investigated it became evident that Sydenhams had failed to take the reasonable steps to prevent such purchases of knives and other potentially harmful items such as glues and solvents, as the law requires.

“This is particularly disappointing for a larger retailer with 24 stores, almost 500 staff and an annual turnover in excess of £75 million.

“This retailer had the resources to implement a legally compliant system but failed to do so and in such circumstances we believe that this prosecution was justified.”

From April 2019 to  March 2020 Trading Standards services across England and Wales carried out 1,614 test purchases of knives with 210 stores failing to check ages.

Shop staff selling knives to anyone under the age of 18 can also face unlimited fines and up to six months in prison.

In March this year a former employee of Poundland in Cowley was ordered to pay £879 in fines and costs after she sold a knife to an underage volunteer in July 2019.

This summer, two Oxfordshire businesses, Lewis Baker Retail Ltd and Haynes of Challow Ltd admitted similar offences and were ordered to pay £2,909.46 and £9,912.81 respectively in fines and costs.

If you know of somebody illegally selling knives, alcohol or cigarettes to under 18s call 0808 223 1133 or email Trading.standards@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

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