A HYDE shop owner and an employee have been sentenced after admitting selling a kitchen knife to a 14-year-old.
Tameside Magistrates’ Court heard that the illegal sale took place at Big Discount Bargain Store on Market Street.
It happened during a joint operation involving Tameside Council Trading Standards officers, Greater Manchester Police officers and volunteer police cadets.
The operation was carried out on May 29, 2025, and targeted seven retailers across the borough. Magistrates were told that all businesses had been warned in advance that test purchasing exercises could take place and had been provided with guidance on the law and procedures designed to prevent underage sales.
Despite the warnings, a kitchen knife was sold to a 14-year-old volunteer at the Hyde town centre store.
Business owner Akram Khan, of Mayfield Road in Gorton, and the employee who made the sale both pleaded guilty to offences under Section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, which prohibits the sale of knives to anyone under the age of 18.
During a hearing on May 21, 2026, Khan was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, including 100 hours of unpaid work and five Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days. He was also ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £430 towards prosecution costs.
The employee received a 12-month Community Order with 55 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £100 towards prosecution costs.
Following the case, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Environmental Services and Neighbourhoods, Cllr Laura Boyle, said: “Selling knives to anyone under 18 is a serious offence and puts young people and our communities at risk.
“I’m proud of our trading standards team for this successful prosecution and their continued work to keep Tameside safe.
“It is crucial that retailers take their legal responsibilities seriously. We will continue to support responsible businesses, but we will not hesitate to take enforcement action where the law is broken.”