A Hastings shop owner has been sentenced after admitting to selling illegal tobacco and selling alcohol and vapes to underage customers.
Lhon Karimi, 29, of Devonshire Road, was handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence, a £230 fine, and ordered to pay £500 in costs at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on April 24.
The offences took place at Delboys on Castle Street during 2023 and 2024. Investigations by East Sussex Trading Standards uncovered sales of counterfeit cigarettes, illegal vapes, and alcohol to minors.
Karimi initially denied the charges but changed his plea at the start of his trial in December. He admitted nine offences, including breaches of the Trade Marks Act, Licensing Act, and Children and Families Act.
The court ordered the destruction of all seized stock.
Cllr Penny di Cara said the case highlights the council’s commitment to tackling illegal sales that harm communities and endanger young people.
