Southall shopkeeper fined £3,077 for firework safety breaches
Abdullah Hassan admitted storing excess fireworks and selling them to a minor at Alpha Digital Systems in Lady Margaret Road.
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A Southall shopkeeper has been ordered to pay £3,077 after pleading guilty to offences related to the unsafe storage of fireworks and selling them to a minor. Abdullah Hassan, who runs Alpha Digital Systems on Lady Margaret Road, admitted the breaches at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court. The court heard that the failings created a serious risk of fire or explosion for people living in flats above the shop and for customers.
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Ealing trading standards officers inspected Alpha Digital Systems in October 2025. They found that the shop was storing 97 kilograms of fireworks, exceeding the 75-kilogram limit set by its licence. The licence was intended to ensure safety in emergencies. Some of the fireworks stored were more powerful than those covered by the licence. Officers noted that the fireworks were not stored securely and were accessible to the public.
Under-age sales despite warnings
Five days after the inspection, a 15-year-old volunteer was sold fireworks at the shop as part of a test purchase operation. The sale occurred without the volunteer's age being challenged. Trading standards officers had previously warned the business about under-age sales during the earlier inspection. It is illegal to sell most fireworks to individuals under the age of 18.
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Court penalties
At Uxbridge Magistrates' Court, Abdullah Hassan pleaded guilty to the offences. He was fined £769, ordered to pay £2,000 in court costs, and a £308 victim surcharge, bringing the total to £3,077. He was also given a 12-month community order, which requires him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. A prison sentence had been a possible outcome for the offences.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, cabinet member for decent living incomes at Ealing Council, stated that residents expect businesses selling fireworks to follow the law and prioritise safety. She added that the case involved significant failings that put local people, including families living above the shop, at risk, and resulted in fireworks being sold to a child.
Questions this report answers
+How much was Abdullah Hassan fined?
Abdullah Hassan was fined a total of £3,077. This included a £769 fine, £2,000 in court costs, and a £308 victim surcharge. He also received a 12-month community order requiring him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
+What firework safety breaches occurred at Alpha Digital Systems?
Ealing trading standards found 97 kilograms of fireworks stored at Alpha Digital Systems, exceeding the licensed limit of 75 kilograms. Additionally, a 15-year-old volunteer was sold fireworks during a test purchase, despite prior warnings about under-age sales.
+What were the risks associated with the firework storage?
The court heard that the way the fireworks were stored, including in areas accessible to the public and not securely, created a serious risk of fire or explosion. This posed a threat to customers, staff, and residents living in flats above the shop.
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