Poundstretcher in Middleton fined for underage knife sales

Poundstretcher in Middleton fined for underage knife sales

Poundstretcher in Middleton has been prosecuted for illegally selling a knife to underage customers at its Middleton branch.

The store, in Middleton Shopping Centre, was caught on camera selling a ‘premium three-inch paring knife’ to two volunteers aged 15 and 16-years-old, during a test purchasing exercise undertaken by the council’s public protection service in August 2015.

Rochdale Borough Council asked that Poundstretcher be prosecuted as the sale was the third to underage children at that store since 2008.

The shop was also unable to produce employee training records for the staff member who made the sale, who received a written warning for the offence.

The company was fined £4,000 with costs of £800 and a £120 victim surcharge.

The company has already been fined £4,000 plus costs for the previous two offences.

The Offensive Weapons Act 1996 makes it is a criminal offence to sell a knife, axe or blade to a person under the age of 18.

Andrea Fallon, Director of Public Health at Rochdale Borough Council, said “This prosecution is an excellent result. I hope it sends a message to retailers that irresponsible trading won’t be tolerated and could have severe consequences. We take underage sales very seriously and our test-purchasing exercises are a crucial tool to help us take action and keep our communities safe.”