SHOPKEEPER Leslie Noble has been given a conditional discharge by magistrates for selling rocket fireworks to a 13-year-old girl.

Mr Noble, 43, was caught out by a spot check when he sold Demon Detonator fireworks to the young girl at News Shop in Phelps Parade, Calne, in October, without questioning her age.

Yvonne Bennett, of Wiltshire County Council's Trading Standards department, told North Wiltshire Magistrates Court sitting in Chippenham on Tuesday, July 4, how Wiltshire County Council had been carrying out a survey and tested several shops in the area.

The 13-year-old was sent into the shop undercover with a trading standards officer.

We have to follow Home Office guidelines when choosing the children we send in and obviously they must not look older than they are, said Mrs Bennett.

She was a good five years under 18. In our opinion she did not look 18, otherwise we wouldn't have brought the case.

Mr Noble told the court: I didn't think from a sideways glance that she was under 18. I have a 14-year-old son and she looked to me to be much older than him.

In the past we have had recommendations from trading standards for refusing cigarettes and other products. I can only apologise and I cannot condone it.

He was ordered to £350 towards prosecution costs.