Show owner fined following investigation into illegal vapes
Casey Peyton
21 October 2025

Investigations into illegal vapes and the unsafe storage of fireworks in Scarborough have led to a shop owner and his employee being fined.

Nathan Pratt, of Westway, Eastfield, Scarborough, was found to have 2653 illegal vapes in his possession at the American Sweets and Vapes Outlet, Castle Road, in November last year.

Executive member for managing our environment, Cllr Richard Foster, whose responsibilities include trading standards, said the authority would not hesitate to prosecute shop owners and staff who did not comply with the law.

He said: “Though separate cases, the actions of both men put the public at risk.

“Our trading standards officers work diligently on behalf of residents to expose such practices, and I would like to thank them for their efforts in securing these convictions.”

The law states vapes should have a limit of two millilitres of nicotine containing liquid, or 600 puffs, to reduce the amount people inhale.

The North Yorkshire Police trading standards team found 147 vapes found to contain more than the permitted maximum of two millimetres of nicotine containing liquid.

A further 2,506 vapes did not comply with labelling, packaging and information requirements.

Pratt appeared at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday 17 October where he pleaded guilty to offences under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 and was fined £323, ordered to pay a £129 victim surcharge and £300 costs.

On a separate investigation, Pratt’s employee, Stephen Royds, of High Street, Eastfield, Scarborough, pleaded guilty also on Friday, to keeping fireworks in an unsafe manner, contrary to the terms of his license.

While Royds held a licence for the storage of HT4 lower hazard fireworks in a display space and metal cabinet, he was found to have stored them outside these units when officers visited two days after the initial call to the premises. 

He was also found to have kept HT3 fireworks at the location, which have a greater risk and are normally only available from specialist online suppliers.

Royds was fined £346, ordered to pay a £138 victim surcharge and £300 in costs after contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. 

Cllr Richard Foster added: “We are also indebted to the public who often bring these situations to light, and I would remind people that they can contact us in confidence should they have any concerns about shops or other premises in their communities.”

Anyone with information should visit North Yorkshire Police’s Trading Standards page.