Bradford shop sells fireworks to a child
Wednesday 10 September
On the 10th of September 2025, Mr Yasir Mukhtar Choudry from Bradford appeared at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court for sentencing regarding the sale of a Vortex Battery of Shots firework to a child under the age of eighteen. The sale was made from Bang Fireworks, 31 Whetley Lane, Bradford, BD8 9EH. Mr Choudry pleaded guilty on 13th August 2025 to committing the offence under the Fireworks Act 2003 and the Pyrotechnical Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015, when the case went for trial. He was sentenced to a twelve-month community order and ordered to carry out ninety hours of unpaid work, ten rehabilitation activity days and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and costs of £650.
The case was launched after West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service received complaints about the premises selling fireworks to underage children. In November 2024, a 16-year-old volunteer approached the counter, under the supervision of a Trading Standards Officer, and attempted to buy a firework. The child was able to buy the vortex battery of shots firework for £20-00 without being challenged about their age or asked for any form of ID by the seller. It is an offence to sell fireworks to a person under the age of eighteen. Mr Choudry claimed he had asked the test purchaser if they were with the Trading Standards Officer and that they had replied that they were, but this was not corroborated by the Trading Standards Officer.
Mr Choudry was invited to be interviewed after the sale but he did not attend the interview. Mr Choudry did not provide any evidence that he had trained his staff. There was no evidence of a refusals log being kept by the business even though they were selling age restricted products.
David Strover, Head of Trading Standards - Business Services said, “the sale of fireworks to children should not be happening within our communities. Fireworks are a dangerous product when in the hands of children, and also their use at inappropriate times of the day and the night causes significant community impacts.
We will continue to work with West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service as part of Operation Odiham - a multi-agency operation to ensure residents have a safe fireworks season that is not blighted by retailers selling fireworks to children, and the wider community impacts of such sales.”
Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller, Gold Commander for West Yorkshire Police’s Bonfire Night operation, said: “We know the illegal sale and anti-social use of fireworks is a real concern for residents in Bradford and other parts of West Yorkshire and that’s why we are determined to continue working with our partners to tackle the issue.
As in previous years, we will be carrying out joint operations across our districts in the lead-up to Bonfire Night so I would urge anybody with any information about the illegal sale of fireworks to please tell us so we can act.
This case should also send a clear message to retailers who continue to sell fireworks irresponsibly that this behaviour will not be tolerated in West Yorkshire.
There is a reason that potentially dangerous items like fireworks can only be sold by legal retailers with safeguards about who can purchase them and when. We will continue to work with the Fire Service and West Yorkshire Trading Standards to make sure they are only sold legally to be enjoyed safely and responsibly.”
Councillor Sue Duffy - Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee which oversees the work of Trading Standards said “it is clearly irresponsible not to check the age of teenage customers wanting to purchase age restricted goods. Test purchases or inspections are undertaken regularly by Trading Standards staff to ensure shops adhere to the law on fireworks. The simple task of asking for identification and verifying the age of younger customers will help to reduce the significant community safety risks associated with children using fireworks.”
Consumers wishing to report illegal trading practices, including the sale of age restricted goods to children can call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 to report their concerns - this can be done anonymously.