A business has been fined more than £12,000 after knives were sold to a 16-year-old.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre were told on Monday (April 20) that the transaction at Bargain World in High Street, Tunstall, took place just six months after Bargain World in Smallthorne received a £6,000 fine for an underage sale in May 2024.

No-one from the business – Bargain World (BBM) Ltd – was present for Monday's hearing. But the November 2024 case was found proven in absence.

Ms Round, prosecuting on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said council officers visited the Tunstall shop in October 2024 with a letter in relation to age restrictions on knife sales as well as posters to put on display.

On November 12 a 16-year-old volunteer visited the store, selected a pack of three knives and took them to the till.

The cashier did not ask for the volunteer's age or to see ID, the court was told. The till had a prompt system in place for restricted items, but it did not recognise the knife pack.

Ms Round said: "This is clearly a matter for public concern given the serious implications of knife crime, and ensuring bladed articles do not fall into the hands of people under 18."

Magistrates fined the business £12,500. It was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £998, and a deprivation order was made for the knives.

advertisement

In August 2023 Trading Standards officers visited the Bargain World store in Smallthorne with three volunteers aged 14 to 15 and an axe was sold to one of the teenagers during a test purchase.

Magistrates heard in May 2024 that steps had been taken since the test purchase to prevent a re-occurrence.