A SHOP owner has been left more than £1,000 out of pocket after a member of her staff was caught selling a 99p can of lager to a boy.

Trading standards officers from Waltham Forest Council carried out the sting operation against 'Inga’ in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, last year.

The 15-year-old was told to admit to his real age if staff enquired, but he was sold the can of Carlsberg with no questions asked.

At a hearing at Thames Magistrates Court last week licence holder Larisa Koseleva was fined £400 and she was ordered to pay £600 costs with a £15 surcharge.

The member of staff who sold the alcohol, Anna Augustinska, was fined just £73 because she is on benefits. She must also pay costs of £80 and a surcharge of £15.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, cabinet member for environment, said, “The license holder has paid a heavy price for her employee’s lack of professionalism.

“However, I’m afraid I have little sympathy with either of the parties prosecuted.

"It is wholly inappropriate to sell alcohol to minors and incumbent open shopkeepers to play their part in protecting the young people of our borough".