An Ilford man has pleaded guilty in court for selling a nicotine-containing vape to a school child.

During a Barking and Dagenham Council test purchasing operation in May last year, Mr Muhammad Moman sold a vape to a 13-year-old.

Mr Moman of Fairway Gardens, Ilford is the director of M & N Mobiles Ltd, T/A Mobile City on Ripple Road, Barking where he was caught selling the vape.

It is illegal to sell nicotine-containing e-cigarettes or vapes to anyone under the age of 18 as per Regulation 3 of the Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015.

Mr Moman was summoned to Barkingside Magistrates Court on Tuesday 23 January where he pleaded guilty.

The judge ordered Mr Moman to pay a fine of £300, costs to Barking and Dagenham Council of £300 and a Victim Surcharge of £120, totalling £720.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Businesses have a huge responsibility in making sure that they’re not selling adult products to children and this person has completely neglected to do this.

“Vapes still contain addictive substances such as nicotine and so we need to make sure that we protect our young people by not allowing them easy access to these products.

“We need all businesses to be aware of the rules and make sure they don’t sell them to children. If they do and we catch them, we will take enforcement action.”

If residents are aware of businesses selling products to children, meant for adults only, they should report them to tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.