Hayley Robinson

A store has been banned from trading for three days after a shop assistant sold alcohol to an under-age girl.

Swale council agreed the suspension with the backing of the police after the sale was made at Kent Mart, in Station Street, Sittingbourne, on September 22. It will come into force at the beginning of December.

PC Jason Hedges discovered the sale when he saw a girl he knows to be 17, leaving the shop with alcohol.

When he challenged her she admitted buying it and revealed she was not challenged about her age or asked for identification. PC Hedges spoke to the shop assistant who admitted selling the drink.

On top of the suspension Kent Mart was told to train staff to ask customers for ID if they look younger than 25, display warning posters, to upgrade its CCTV and to keep a log book of recording full details of refused alcohol sales.

Police will continue to monitor the premises.