Shopkeeper who endangered neighbours with explosives is sentenced

Fireworks stuffed in attic alongside spirits, court heard

A THATCHAM shopkeeper who endangered neighbours by storing nearly 50kg of fireworks in the attic must carry out unpaid community work.

In addition, Harjit Singh Sandhu was left with a £2,060 bill when he was sentenced by Reading magistrates on Friday, May 29.

At a previous hearing, Newbury magistrates were told how gunpowder-filled boxes were shoved in alongside matches, cases of spirits and electrical wires at 38 Green Lane, Thatcham, round the corner from Crown Mead Stores, the court heard on Thursday, April 16.

Alex Kirk, prosecuting on behalf of West Berkshire Council’s trading standards department, said: “It would have endangered occupants of neighbouring properties if an explosion had occured. Consideration was not given to potential sources of ignition nearby.”

Mr Sandhu, aged 33, lived at the Green Lane property and his wife now runs the stores, the court was told.

Mr Sandhu admitted storing explosives without taking appropriate measures to prevent fire or explosion as required by law, on August 5, 2013.

At the sentencing hearing, Mr Sandhu was ordered to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid community work.

In addition he was ordered to pay £2,000 towards the council’s costs in bringing the case plus a statutory surcharge of £60.