Birmingham store fined for selling knives to teenager
Elims Green Grocery Ltd was fined more than £6000
A Birmingham grocery store has been fined thousands of pounds after a teenager was sold a pack of knives by an employee working on their very first day.
Birmingham City Council carried out a test purchase exercise at Elims Green Grocery Ltd, on Curdale Road, in October last year where a 15-year-old was able to buy a pack of six kitchen knives.
Birmingham Magistrates Court was told he was sold the item by 25-year-old Mohammed Anwari, who did not challenge the customer’s age.
At a hearing on Thursday 30th July, Anwari pleaded guilty to one charge of selling an offensive weapon to a person under 18 years of age.
Ali Ahmad, director of Elims Green Grocery Ltd, pleaded guilty to a similar offence on behalf of the company.
Simon Mortimer, prosecuting on behalf of Birmingham City Council, said the authority had received a complaint the store was selling vapes and knives to underage customers in 2025.
Officers visited and offered advice as well as providing a book where all age challenges were to be recorded.
But a further complaint was received in June last year and a decision was taken to carry out a test purchase exercise.
On October 29, 2025, a 15-year-old volunteer went into the store shortly after an officer, who had gone in to observe. The volunteer left with the set of six knives.
Mr Mortimer said: “(Anwari) was shown the knives purchased by the 15-year-old. At no point was the age of the consumer challenged.
“By their pleas, the company and the employee fully accept their part in the offending.”
In mitigation for the company, the court was told Mr Ahmad had put in place four days of training for Anwari prior to him starting work and procedures were visible in the shop.
The director was not present when the purchase happened and, when he learned about what had happened, Anwari’s employment was terminated immediately.
Mr Ahmad has also made the decision to stop selling knives altogether in the shop.
The court heard he had purchased the shop 18 months ago and takes a ‘mediocre’ salary of £500 per week to support his wife and two children.
Speaking through a translator, Anwari said: “I have been sacked and am not working. I was wrong and did commit the wrongdoing.
“Prior to this gentleman, a lady came in and asked about the price of the set of knives. She said she did not have enough money but would send someone later.
“When the boy came, that why I sold him the knife. I had four days training before starting work and that was my first day.”
Magistrates gave credit for their early guilty pleas. The company was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £1,600 and costs of £497.
Anwari was fined £200 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £80 and costs of £497.