Underage children in sting op told to hide cigarettes and alcohol sold at Wolverhampton shop

But the youngsters were actually volunteers working for Wolverhampton trading standards, a licensing committee heard.

Cameron Convenience Store in Parkfield Road could now lose its licence following the undercover sting.

Shop owner Angelo Salvo was later cautioned for selling alcohol and tobacco to youngsters, while his father Francesco and previous owner Krunal Gajjar were both fined by Wolverhampton Magistrates Court after admitting selling drink to children.

Members of the city's licensing committee will tomorrow decide whether to revoke the store's drinks licence.

Licensing officer Elaine Morton said shopkeeper Angelo Salvo, who owned the store on the corner of Windsor Road, had showed 'blatant disregard' for the law.

Trading standards officer Dianne Slack said that previous owner Mr Gajjar was contacted in December 2012 following a complaint that children were being sold drink and cigarettes on 'most weekends'.

On May 15 last year trading standards officers sent two girls aged 14 and 15 into the shop, where Angelo Salvo sold them 10 Richmond cigarettes and a bottle of Budweiser lager.

"There was no attempt to ask the volunteers their age or ask for identification," said Mrs Slack.

Mr Salvo was in charge of the premises that night, and it was later discovered he was in the process of buying the business.

A week later, the same youngsters went into the shop, and bought a bottle of VS vodka and 10 Mayfair cigarettes.

The children were this time served by Mr Salvo's girlfriend Amandeep Kaur.

"Also present was Mr Salvo's father Francesco Salvo, who was in charge of the shop. He was sitting behind the counter drinking a bottle of beer.

"The volunteers were not asked for identification, or had their age challenged in any way.

"Francesco Salvo said to the volunteers to hide the purchases because they did not look 18."

Under questioning, Mr Gajjar said he had not been involved with the business since December, 2011, but was still registered as the licence holder.

The report said that in January this year Mr Gajjar, now 31, pleaded guilty(G) to two charges of unlawfully selling alcohol to children, for failing to notify the licensing authority about the change to the supervisor of the premises, and for failing to display a license summary in the shop. He was fined a total of £350, and ordered to pay £1,257 costs and a £25 victim surcharge.

Francesco Salvo, aged 54, also pleaded guilty(g) to allowing the sale of alcohol to a child, and was fined £175, ordered to pay £300 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. Angelo Salvo, aged 26, was issued with a caution.