Tunstall shop fined again for underage knife sales
Bargain World faces second penalty in six month period
A Stoke shop has been fined £12,500 for selling knives to a 16-year-old, marking the second time the company has been penalised for underage sales.
Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard on 20th April that this transaction took place at the Tunstall High Street branch of Bargain World - just six months after the business's store in Smallthorne was fined £6,000 for a similar offence in May 2024.
No representatives from Bargain World (BBM) Ltd attended Monday's hearing, but the case was proven in their absence.
According to Ms Round, prosecuting on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, officers visited the Tunstall location in October 2024 to provide information on age restrictions for knife sales and posters for display.
On 12th November 2024, a 16-year-old volunteer entered the store, selected a pack of three knives, and proceeded to the checkout.
The cashier failed to ask for the volunteer's age or request identification, the court was informed. While the register featured a prompt system for restricted items, it did not alert for the knife pack.
Ms Round stated: “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.”
The court imposed a £12,500 fine on the business, along with a £2,000 victim surcharge and £998 in costs. A deprivation order was also issued for the seized knives.
This latest case mirrors a previous incident in August 2023, where Trading Standards officers visited the Bargain World store in Smallthorne, and an axe was sold to one of three volunteers aged 14 to 15 during a test purchase.
Magistrates were informed in May 2024 that steps had since been taken to prevent further occurrences.