POLICE and trading standards officials have warned that underage alcohol sales will not be tolerated following the successful prosecution of a shop worker.

James Pailor, 19, of St Luke's Court, Hartlepool, was fined £100 with £100 costs when he appeared before magistrates in the town and admitted a charge contrary to section 169A of the Licensing Act 1964.

He was working in the Lifestyle Express store in Hart Lane when he sold a bottle of Lambrini to a 13-year-old girl, who was part of an undercover trading standards operation that took place on February 25.

Trading standards officer Neil Harrison said: "The sale of alcohol to children obviously contributes greatly towards anti-social behaviour.

"Hartlepool residents are fed up with having to put up with such behaviour and, therefore, the council has adopted a zero tolerance policy towards such illegal sales. Those who supply alcohol to children will be prosecuted."

He warned other shop workers, whether they are store managers, owners or even part-time shelf stackers, that other operations will be organised and offenders punished.

He said: "In this particular case, the shop worker failed to ask for identification and there is no excuse for this. If there is any doubt as to a person's age, identification must be sought."

Hartlepool police's anti-social behaviour officer, PC Shelley Watson, said Pailor was the first to be prosecuted in the town following test purchases organised by her unit.

"This is the first time we have had a successful prosecution and we are delighted with the results," she said.

"We will continue to work in partnership with the local authority, trading standards and responsible landlords, and we have also organised similar operations in pubs.