A TOWN centre trader was caught selling cigarettes to an underage resident following a sting operation by the council, a court heard.

On Friday, Karolina Sikora, from Latchford, appeared at Warrington Magistrates' Court after facing 26 charges related to activity at 'Spizarnia', on Legh Street.

The 35-year-old, of Clarke Avenue, said she was not the owner of the store and denied the unauthorised sale of alcohol, exposing unauthorised alcohol for trading, keeping it on the premises for sale and offering goods bearing false trademarks.

Sikora, who had a Polish interpreter in court, also denied contravening a provision of safety regulations on tobacco products, recklessly engaging in commercial practice and selling tobacco to a person under 18.

But following evidence from council officers involved in the operation from last July to January, she was found guilty of the charges.

The court heard on July 17 last year she sold beer at the shop despite not having authorisation to do so, and did so again 13 days later, along with offering cigarettes and tobacco bearing false trademarks for sale.

The goods included a 48-pack of cigarettes, which 'imitated' Mayfair packaging.

On September 11 she was again found to have offered goods with false trademarks, along with seven counts of being in possession of tobacco products which failed to display necessary safety warnings.

Council employees visited the store several times and obtained an invoice addressed to the defendant.

Also in September during a visit, the defendant was found trying, but failing to, shut a store room door, which 'raised suspicions', the court heard.

On January 21 there was an exercise carried out by the authority's trading standards department – a 17-year-old girl was accompanied by an officer to a number of shops, including Spizarnia.

The 17-year-old was sold a 20-pack of Marlboro cigarettes at the store.

However, Sikora insisted she was not the owner and in fact a shop assistant – but the council refuted the claims.

John Holmes, prosecuting, said: "The allegation is that she was in control of the business when the sales were made.

"She told the council employees she was in the process of taking on the business in May and an invoice was found in July.

"We say that is evidence of the defendant's controlling interest."

But defence solicitor Jonathan Conder criticised the 'weak' evidence against his client and made and application that there was no case to answer.

He said: "In essence, the defendant said she was only working at the shop as an assistant, she had no controlling interest in the business and did not own it.

"The prosecution has not been able to ascertain who owns the business – it is not fair to point the finger at someone who was there working.

"I don't think the case should proceed."

Sikora will be sentenced at Halton Magistrates' Court on August 30.