Shop owner who illegally sold a knife to a child is fined £500
A shop owner who illegally sold a knife to a child during a test operation has been fined £500, in the first prosecution of its kind by Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards officers.
Officers from Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards team joined forces with Lancashire Constabulary for Operation Sceptre, a week-long test purchasing operation that saw a team of young people attempting to buy knives from high street and online sellers in May 2025. A total of 77 shops were visited during the week.
It is a criminal offence to sell knives to anyone under the age of 18.
This is the first prosecution that Lancashire Trading Standards has undertaken for the sale of a knife to a child and future prosecutions will be considered for any shops that break the law.
Dilavar Husain Patel, the owner of Brookfield Newsagents on Langcliffe Road, pleaded guilty to selling a knife to a 14-year-old during Operation Sceptre at Preston Magistrates Court on 28 January 2026.
Mr Patel, who admitted the sale by an employee, was ordered to pay £500 in fines, £100 costs plus a £200 victim surcharge, totalling £800.
Councillor Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities said:
"Joint operations like Operation Sceptre allow us to take the strongest possible action against those who flout the law.
“Protecting our young people from being able to buy knives is a vital part of preventing knife crime, and it's appalling to see a local business selling a knife to a child.
“This is the first prosecution that has been taken by Lancashire County Council's Trading Standards for the sale of a knife to a child and future prosecutions will be considered for any shops that break the law.
"Our Trading Standards team works hard to challenge traders who put money before the safety of their customers and our community.”
Anyone wishing to report sales of age restricted goods to young people under-18 can do so at www.lancashire.gov.uk/lancan/contact-us