Key Points
- Mile End Road Co-op sold a 660ml bottle of Birra Moretti beer to a 12-year-old during an undercover test purchase in August 2024.
- The seller, Wasala Nawod Bandara, was found guilty in his absence at Thames Magistrates’ Court and fined £660 plus additional costs.
- Tower Hamlets Council’s Trading Standards, alongside the Metropolitan Police, conducted undercover operations targeting illegal sales in Whitechapel, Watney Market, and Mile End.
- Whitechapel Poundshop Ltd sold a corrosive product (Knockout caustic soda) to a 16-year-old; company director Abdul Alim pleaded guilty and was fined.
- Dolphins shop in Watney Market also sold a corrosive product to a child; both the seller Mohammed Madani and manager Mohammed Miah pleaded guilty.
- The council emphasises protecting young people from unlawful sales and encourages public reporting of such offences.
What Happened at Mile End Road Co-op According to Tower Hamlets Council?
As reported by a journalist from the London Evening Standard, the Mile End Road Co-op was caught selling alcohol to a 12-year-old during an undercover operation conducted by Tower Hamlets Council’s Trading Standards team alongside the Metropolitan Police. The illegal sale took place on August 16, 2024, when a 660ml bottle of Birra Moretti beer was sold. Wasala Nawod Bandara, the employee who made the sale, was prosecuted in his absence at Thames Magistrates’ Court on September 30, 2025.
The council confirmed that Bandara had received company training but failed to ask for any identification or follow the correct procedures. He was fined £660, with an additional £264 victim surcharge and £1,100 in legal costs.
Who Is Wasala Nawod Bandara and What Penalties Did He Face?
According to The Guardian’s legal correspondent, Wasala Nawod Bandara was held accountable for selling alcohol to a minor and was found guilty despite his absence at the court hearing. The court imposed a total financial penalty including a fine, victim surcharge, and costs totaling over £2,000.
The council described the sale as “illegal and deeply irresponsible”. Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury, cabinet member for public protection and integrated enforcement, stated:
“Selling corrosive products or alcohol to children is not only illegal but deeply irresponsible. These substances can cause real harm, and businesses must take their responsibilities seriously.”
How Did Tower Hamlets Council and the Police Conduct These Undercover Operations?
As outlined by BBC News London, the Trading Standards team coordinated multiple undercover test purchases at different locations including West Ham, Whitechapel, and Mile End. The partnership with the Metropolitan Police aimed to reinforce legal safeguards preventing the sale of alcohol and corrosive products to minors.
What Other Illegal Sales Were Uncovered During These Operations?
The East London Advertiser reported that Whitechapel Poundshop Ltd, trading as Whitechapel Essential Houseware, sold a bottle of Knockout caustic soda containing sodium hydroxide to a 16-year-old during a test purchase on March 1, 2025. The product was clearly marked with an age-restriction warning. The sale was made by company director Abdul Alim, who did not request proof of age.
At Thames Magistrates’ Court on September 30, both Alim and the business pleaded guilty. The business was fined £4,000 with a £1,600 victim surcharge and £600 costs. Alim was fined £692, with a £277 victim surcharge and £600 in costs.
What About the Incident at Dolphins in Watney Market?
The Guardian further detailed a parallel offence at Dolphins shop in Watney Market. Mohammed Madani sold a corrosive product to a child during undercover testing. It was found the business lacked proper controls to prevent underage sales. Both Madani and his manager Mohammed Miah pleaded guilty under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.
Madani was fined £224 plus a £90 victim surcharge and £200 costs. Miah was fined £365 with a £146 victim surcharge and over £2,200 in costs.
How Is the Council Responding to These Offences?
Cllr Abu Talha Chowdhury emphasised the council’s commitment to protecting young people and ensuring retailers comply with the law:
“Our trading standards team will continue to carry out regular test purchases to ensure retailers comply with the law and protect our residents.”
The council invites members of the public to report businesses that sell age-restricted products to minors anonymously via the Tower Hamlets Council website. This public involvement is seen as vital in supporting enforcement actions.
What Legal Framework Supports These Prosecutions?
The offences fall under legislation regulating the sale of alcohol, corrosive substances, and offensive weapons. The council worked under the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 to prosecute sales involving corrosive products.
What Are the Wider Implications of these Underage Sales?
Illegal sales of alcohol and corrosive substances to minors pose serious health and safety risks. The council stressed that such irresponsibility can cause harm to young people physically and socially. The enforcement actions send a clear message to retailers about the importance of due diligence and adherence to legal responsibilities.
