A Kenton newsagent has been fined after selling alcohol to two underage teenagers.

A member of staff at Quality Food & Wine Ltd in Kenton Lane sold two 330ml bottles of alcohol to teenagers aged 16 and 17 during a council sting operation.

The teenagers had tried to buy the alcohol from the newsagent as part of a compliance check in the area by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards last summer.

During the formal interview with the seller, he said that he believed the two teenagers looked aged 25 or over.

Harrow Council has said the seller gave “no valid reason on how he came to that conclusion”.

The authority added that the newsagent failed to demonstrate that it took all reasonable precautions to avoid the sale taking place.

The newsagent was fined £300 and ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge as well as costs totalling £300 at Willesden Magistrates’ Court after the offence was admitted on its behalf on June 20.

Cllr Pritesh Patel, Harrow Council’s cabinet member for cleaner streets and public safety said: “The law is clear on selling products prohibited to children. It’s why these items have age restrictions on them.

“It is concerning that this trader proceeded to sell alcohol to underage children despite knowing the law. While this was a test purchase it could have been a vulnerable young person.

“Every business has a duty of care to keep the public safe and comply with the law. In this case the trader failed to do that and was given a penalty.

“We will continue to carry out work to keep people safe and take action against businesses operating illegally.”