A SHOP owner has pleaded guilty to selling a Kopparberg cider to a minor, after a routine underage sales operation caught him out.

Parmit Singh Kapoor who is a sales assistant at BB Wines in Wokingham allowed a person under 18-years-old to purchase a single bottle of alcohol and didn't request ID from the teenager or attempt to verify their age.

Kapoor was the only staff member in the shop and was on the phone to this sister while the Public Protection Partnership officers and volunteer entered the store.

The 29-year-old from Hadley Gardens, Southall, London was convicted at Reading Magistrates' Court on July 26 and fined £100, ordered to pay £200 towards prosecution costs plus a £30 victim surcharge.

Accepting guilt, Mr Kapoor explained he was on the phone with his sister who was very upset at the time.

The case was prosecuted by the PPP's Joint Case Management Unit.

Councillor Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure at WBC, said: "It is important that those who sell alcohol or indeed any age restricted product remain vigilant at all times.

"We will continue to carry our exercises of this nature as part of our comprehensive approach to age restricted sales enforcement."

The PPP is a shared service of Wokingham Borough Council, Bracknell Forest Council and West Berkshire Council and delivers trading standards, environmental health and licensing functions.