A shopkeeper in Southall has been fined after pleading guilty to offences that put customers, staff, and residents living in flats above his shop at risk. Abdullah Hassan, of Lilly Green Lane in Redditch, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on 20 October over the storage of fireworks at his business, Alpha Digital Systems, in Lady Margaret Road.
The offences were serious enough that a prison sentence was possible. Instead, Hassan received a 12-month community order requiring 200 hours of unpaid work, a fine of £769, court costs of £2,000, and a victim surcharge of £308 – a total of £3,077.
Inspection found excess and unsafe fireworks
Ealing Council trading standards officers inspected the shop in October 2025 after the business had been licensed to store up to 75 kilos of fireworks. The licence limited the amount stored to help keep people safe in an emergency.
During the inspection, officers found 97 kilos of fireworks on site, including more powerful types not covered by the licence. The fireworks were stored throughout the shop, including in areas accessible to the public, contrary to safety guidance, and many were not stored securely. People live in flats above the shop.
The court heard that the storage created a serious risk of fire or explosion, potentially affecting employees, residents above the shop, and the wider public.
Underage sale to 15-year-old volunteer
Five days after the inspection, a 15-year-old volunteer taking part in a trading standards test purchase operation was sold fireworks at the shop without being challenged about his age. The sale happened despite officers warning the business about underage sales during the previous inspection. It is illegal to sell most fireworks to anyone under 18.
In earlier proceedings on 18 August at the same court, Abdullah Hassan’s father, Asif Hassan, of Lady Margaret Road, pleaded guilty to selling fireworks to a person under 18. He was fined £492 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £197 – a total of £689.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “Residents have a right to expect businesses storing and selling fireworks to follow the law and put safety first. This case involved serious failings that created risks for local people, including families living above the shop, and resulted in fireworks being sold to a child. We will continue to take the strongest possible action against businesses that put people at risk.”
