A HASTINGS shop owner has been given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to nine offences relating to illegal tobacco and underage vape and alcohol sales.

Following an investigation by East Sussex Trading Standards, Lhon Karimi, 29, of Devonshire Road in Hastings, was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, a £230 fine and £500 costs at Hastings Magistrates Court on Thursday, April 24.

The offences, which took place in 2023 and 2024, concerned illegal tobacco and cigarettes offered for sale as well as underage alcohol and vape sales at Karimi’s shop, Delboys on Castle Street in Hastings.

East Sussex Trading Standards inspected the premises in May 2023 after a child test purchaser was able to buy a can of cider from the store. Counterfeit cigarettes and cigarettes and tobacco in non-standardised packaging were discovered.

A packet of illegal cigarettes was also sold by Karimi to an adult test purchaser in September 2023.

A second inspection of the shop in April 2024, following the sale of an illegal over capacity vape to a child test purchaser the week before, resulted in the discovery of a further quantity of illegal cigarettes.

After initially pleading not guilty to all the charges put to him at court appearances throughout 2024, Karimi changed his plea at the start of his trial in December last year.

Karimi pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching the Trade Marks Act, two counts of supplying tobacco in non-standardised packaging and one count each of breaching the Licensing Act and breaching the Children and Families Act.

At the sentencing hearing last month, the lay bench noted there was “some ignorance and naivety” on Karimi’s part and that he pleaded guilty once he understood the offence.

The lay bench also made an order for the forfeiture and destruction of all the stock seized.

Cllr Penny di Cara, the county council’s lead member for economy said: “Whilst this case has taken some time to reach a conclusion, hopefully the prosecution and conviction will make it clear we will pursue offenders through the courts.

“We take the supply of illegal tobacco very seriously. The sale of cheap tobacco is widely acknowledged to negatively affect communities and encourage smoking among young people due to cheaper prices, as well as undermining the efforts of stop smoking services.

“The sale of alcohol and vapes to our young people is unacceptable and potentially exposes them to the addiction and health risks associated with the underage use of nicotine and alcohol.”

For consumer advice, or to report a concern to Trading Standards, people can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, or use their online reporting page which can be found at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/trading-standards/contact