A Grays off licence owner has been fined £1,050 by Basildon magistrates after selling cigarettes to under-age children.

Thirty-eight-year-old Ragunathan Mayuran, the owner of the NABCO off licence in Southend Road, was caught when two young people - aged 15 and 16 – took part in an undercover operation by Thurrock Council trading standards.

The two minors bought 20 Mayfair cigarettes in the store for £7.89 in the operation.

The court heard the sale was made by a male member of staff who did not ask the volunteers to produce identification or confirm their ages when they went into the store in March this year.

Mr Mayuran pleaded guilty to selling cigarettes to a person under the age of 18 and, in mitigation, referred to three previous test purchases in 2014 where staff had refused to sell products to underage volunteers.

On Friday (14 August) Mayuran was fined £500, with £500 in costs, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £50.

People are encouraged to report concerns about the underage sale of alcohol and cigarettes in Thurrock by visiting thurrock.gov.uk and clicking on Report It – the report can be made anonymously.

The Report it app can also be downloaded through the App Store free of charge.