A former Stockport shopkeeper has been prosecuted after nearly 1,000 illegal vapes were seized from his Hazel Grove shop.

In April and July 2023, a total of 980 disposable vapes were seized from the Pound Hut, which has since closed down.

The vapes were non-compliant in that they had more than the legal limit of two millilitres of nicotine-containing liquid. Furthermore, the vapes did not have the required health warnings on the packaging.

Following these seizures, 56-year-old Syed Nasir Raza Shah of Fountains Road, Stretford, appeared in court to face four offences under The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.

Stockport Council's Trading Standards team brought the prosecution. In court, Mr Shah pleaded guilty to all offences.

He received a sentence of 32 weeks custody, suspended for 12 months. The court also imposed a £180 victim surcharge.

Councillor Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member for Public Protection at Stockport Council, said: "This prosecution demonstrates our zero-tolerance approach to the sale of illegal and unsafe vaping products.

"These items are often aimed at younger consumers and pose serious health risks. This prosecution sends out a clear message: if you flout the law, we will investigate and take firm action."

As of 1 June 2025, it's now illegal in the UK to sell disposable vapes of any kind. If you do see ongoing sales of disposable vapes, Stockport Council advises reporting it to Trading Standards by contacting the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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