Shisha boss fined for letting youngsters smoke indoors
11:10am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News
A SHISHA takeaway boss has been fined for letting a group of youngsters — aged as young as 13 — smoke indoors.
Ten under 18s, three of whom were under 16, were caught with four lit shisha pipes inside the Dial Me a Shisha business in Daubhill on April 20 last year.
Business owner Firoz Buksh, of Dunbar Drive, Great Lever, yesterday pleaded guilty at Bolton Magistrates Court to failing to prevent smoking indoors.
The teenagers, who were friends of Mr Buksh’s son, were discovered with four other adults inside the property during an on-thespot inspection.
The council had been tipped off by nearby residents who had complained to the police about smoking inside the premises.
On April 17, the council sent the Dial Me a Shisha a warning letter, but smoking inside continued, the court heard.
Mr Buksh, aged 38, said he felt the business had been “picked on”
out of all the other shisha cafes in St Helens Road.
He also denied claims that the youths were smoking shisha indoors that day.
Andrew Morris, prosecuting, said: “Dial Me a Shisha delivered shisha products to addresses so people could effectively ring up to have a shisha takeaway.
“There is nothing unlawful about delivering shisha, but in April some people as young as 13 were reported to be smoking at that premises.
“During a routine inspection, a police constable witnessed several people smoking on the premises.”
Four double sofas and several ash trays were also found during the inspection on April 20. Mr Morris added: “The ash trays on the table indicates smoking was taking place and the smell of smoke was quite noticeable. It was effectively a shisha cafe.”
Mr Buksh, was due to go on trial, but wrote to the court to plead guilty. He said: “We were originally doing a delivery service but I’m not going to deny we made a mistake.
“We have since closed the shop and we have not continued with the delivery service.”
He added: “I don’t know what the situation is with the other shops in the vicinity but I feel as though we have been picked on.
“The minors were not smoking shisha at all. They were my son’s friends who were watching TV and eating crisps.”
Mr Buksh was fined £550 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.
Dial Me a Shisha closed last summer.
Comments(18)
buskersball
says...
11:26am Thu 14 Feb 13
Phil from Smithills
says...
12:13pm Thu 14 Feb 13
No-one is exempt, if you break the law you will be fined. What has race got to do with it?
saj70n
says...
12:45pm Thu 14 Feb 13
BWFC1988
says...
1:08pm Thu 14 Feb 13
saj70n wrote:Obiding the law, preferably.
Where would you rather have your 13 year olds hagging around? In a shisha bar watching TV or on the streets out side off licence's buying booze or on street corners smoking joints.
boltoncity
says...
1:13pm Thu 14 Feb 13
saj70n wrote:and they dont smoke joints in there aswell? wake up pal
Where would you rather have your 13 year olds hagging around? In a shisha bar watching TV or on the streets out side off licence's buying booze or on street corners smoking joints.
close them all down i say
Bob Shaftoe
says...
1:58pm Thu 14 Feb 13
saj70n wrote:Lighten up Saj. Shouldn't you be filling out your whiplash injury claim or is it a 'lost' credit card this time round.
Where would you rather have your 13 year olds hagging around? In a shisha bar watching TV or on the streets out side off licence's buying booze or on street corners smoking joints.
Bob Shaftoe
says...
2:04pm Thu 14 Feb 13
saj70n
says...
2:31pm Thu 14 Feb 13
Bob Shaftoe
says...
5:33pm Thu 14 Feb 13
saj70n
says...
8:45pm Thu 14 Feb 13
DoubleD74
says...
9:15pm Fri 15 Feb 13
boltonnut
says...
1:34pm Tue 19 Feb 13
ALI MINIUM KHAN
says...
10:14pm Tue 19 Feb 13
zoomzam
says...
10:32am Wed 20 Feb 13
saj70n
says...
11:44am Wed 20 Feb 13
boltonnut wrote:Hey Boltonnut your more of a doughnut because I'm not a ****
You seem to have a chip on your shoulder saj70n,Pak it in.
davoovad
says...
7:59pm Wed 20 Feb 13
saj70n wrote:Your not a brit either .
boltonnut wrote:Hey Boltonnut your more of a doughnut because I'm not a ****
You seem to have a chip on your shoulder saj70n,Pak it in.
USHookahMan
says...
9:21am Thu 14 Mar 13
saj70n wrote:So you're telling me that they don't receive any 2nd hand smoke just by being near or inside the establishment, huh? That greedy boss -_-, he should've just sucked it up and only let adults into his establishment and disallowed kids BUT NO, he wants to do it the hard way.
Where would you rather have your 13 year olds hagging around? In a shisha bar watching TV or on the streets out side off licence's buying booze or on street corners smoking joints.
http://www.americanh
ookahbars.com
saj70n says...
11:23am Thu 14 Feb 13