Welsh ice-cream van sells cigs to kids

Two men have been fined £1,130 for selling cigarettes to kids as young as 11 from their ice-cream van in Pontypool.

Cwmbran magistrates fined James Fisher, from Cardiff, who rents the Signor Rossi ice-cream van, and employee Mark Gabriel, from Hengoed, after they pleaded guilty to charges of selling cigarettes to children.

The men were caught after trading standards set up a test purchase involving 14- and 15-year-olds, who, on three different occasions, were not challenged about their age.

Toffaen councillor Gwyneira Clark, executive member for housing and public protection, said: “This case should serve as a warning to businesses in Torfaen that we are constantly on the lookout for illegal sales of cigarettes and we will take action against anyone we catch in the act.”

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