TWO shopkeepers are counting the cost of breaking the law for underage sales. Kuljit Haer, of Burwell News, Burwell Road, Stevenage sold tobacco to an underage volunteer posing as a customer in an undercover test purchasing operation by Hertfordshire Trad

TWO shopkeepers are counting the cost of breaking the law for underage sales.

Kuljit Haer, of Burwell News, Burwell Road, Stevenage sold tobacco to an underage volunteer posing as a customer in an undercover test purchasing operation by Hertfordshire Trading Standards.

At the town magistrates' court on Monday he was fined �200 and told to pay costs of �275 and a victim surcharge of �15.

It was said his motive was to "cash in" as he had ignored advice given by Hertfordshire Trading Standards on two separate visits and in a letter.

At the same court on Monday, Sadagar Singh, of Kandola Stores, Rockingham Way, Stevenage was fined �400 with costs of �425 and a victim surcharge of �15 after he admitted selling alcohol to an underage volunteer in January - just weeks after the store had been prosecuted for the same offence.

Singh claimed a new member of staff had just started that day and it was he who made the sale, although the court heard that Singh supervised the sale.

Singh added that the shop has put measures in place to prevent this happening again.

Keith Emsall, county council executive member for community safety, said: "Let this be a warning to any other shops who might think they can flout the law - underage sales will not be tolerated.

"If you are a shopkeeper, ask yourself whether it is worth the risk - you could not only be fined and have your licence suspended, but you are also putting your livelihood in jeopardy.