Two men from Scarborough have been fined following separate investigations into illegal vapes and unsafe storage of fireworks.
Nathan Pratt, of Westway, Eastfield, was found to have 2,653 illegal vapes during a trading standards visit to the American Sweets and Vapes Outlet on Castle Road in November last year. Of these, 147 contained more than the legal maximum of two millilitres of nicotine liquid, while 2,506 vapes did not meet labelling, packaging or information requirements.
Appearing at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Pratt pleaded guilty to offences under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. He was fined £323, ordered to pay a £129 victim surcharge and £300 in costs.
In a separate case, Pratt’s employee Stephen Royds, of High Street, Eastfield, admitted to storing fireworks unsafely. While he held a licence for HT4 lower hazard fireworks, officers found them outside the authorised storage units. He was also found to have HT3 fireworks on the premises, which carry a greater risk and are usually only available from specialist suppliers.
Royds also appeared at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was fined £346, ordered to pay a £138 victim surcharge and £300 in costs.
Commented Cllr Richard Foster, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for managing our environment: “Though separate cases, the actions of both men put the public at risk. Our trading standards officers work diligently on behalf of residents to expose such practices, and I would like to thank them for their efforts in securing these convictions.
“We are also indebted to the public who often bring these situations to light, and I would remind people that they can contact us in confidence should they have any concerns about shops or other premises in their communities.”
Anyone with information or seeking consumer advice can visit North Yorkshire Council Trading Standards.
