An Eltham mobile phone shop has been hit with a £17,258 fine after being caught selling illegal vapes — many of which featured cartoon characters and branding clearly aimed at children.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich successfully prosecuted Repairs 4 Mobile, located on Eltham High Street, and its director Hassam Zia, following repeated visits by council officers and numerous complaints from concerned residents.
Appearing at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on March 26, Mr Zia pleaded guilty to offences under trading standards legislation, including the sale of mislabelled and unauthorised vaping products.
Council officers first visited the store in April 2022, issuing guidance about legal sales practices. However, during a follow-up visit in July 2022, they found a stash of 603 illegal vapes, which were subsequently seized.
Some of the products were branded with sweet-inspired logos and cartoon-style fruit characters, raising significant concerns that the items were being marketed directly at minors.
‘No Tolerance’ Approach from the Council
Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, welcomed the court’s decision, saying:
“This fine is a great outcome and sends a message of the council’s no-tolerance approach to the sale of illegal vapes.
These vapes were clearly marketed towards minors, which is completely unacceptable and dangerous, so the fine reflects the seriousness of the offence.”
She added that protecting young people from harmful products remains a top priority:
“We hope this substantial fine sends a message to anyone seeking to trade harmful goods in our borough.”
Fines and Defence
Both Mr Zia and Repairs 4 Mobile were fined £2,500 each, along with victim compensation charges of £1,000 and court costs totalling £5,129, bringing the total financial penalty to £17,258.
In court, Mr Zia claimed that he had been experiencing medical issues and that his staff had sold the vapes without his knowledge or consent.
Despite this, the court upheld the fines, citing the seriousness of the offences and the failure to address them after repeated warnings.
Ongoing Enforcement
The council reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the illegal vape trade and ensuring products sold in the borough meet safety and legal standards — especially when they are being marketed in ways that appeal to children and teenagers.
Residents who have concerns about illegal or unsafe products being sold in their local area are urged to contact the council’s Trading Standards team.
