A Poundstretcher shop in Dagenham has been ordered to pay almost £13,000 after selling a set of knives to a teenage girl.
The store was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay costs of more than £5,000 by Romford Magistrates after being found guilty of selling the £2.99 set of knives to the 15-year-old.
The shop in Merrielands Retail Park, Merrielands Crescent, was brought before the court by Barking and Dagenham Council following an undercover test purchase operation last year.
The court awarded costs awarded costs of £5,221.50, plus a £120 victim surcharge, to the local authority.
Councillor Laila Butt, cabinet member for enforcement and community safety, said: “Barking and Dagenham remains among the safest boroughs in the capital and we intend to keep it so.
“We are certainly not complacent, which is why we are working closely with the police to clamp down hard on irresponsible traders who sell knives to young people.
“We take a zero tolerance approach to any irresponsible trader selling knives to youngsters.
"This huge fine sends out a clear message to any business that they will pay dearly for not taking their social responsibility seriously.”
