A Romford shop is battling to keep its licence after it twice sold fireworks to a teenager, despite his loud boasts to the shopkeeper that he would use them to “terrorise” people.
Kai Cooper, who had just turned 18, and a younger boy were seen throwing the lit fireworks by witnesses, the Old Bailey heard, before using one to kill an elderly woman.
Cooper, now 19 and of Cleve Road, Leatherhead, was convicted at the Old Bailey last week of arson and manslaughter over the death of 88-year-old Josephine Smith.
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Now the trial has finished, the Recorder can report that Havering Council tried to shut down Fireworks4Sale, in Station Road, Harold Wood, last year.
CCTV played to jurors at the Old Bailey captured Cooper clearly stating inside the shop his intention to use the fireworks to commit crimes.
He said he planned to throw them at people’s faces, adding: “People are going to get terrorised tonight."
The company – previously prosecuted for breaching Covid rules – has appealed against the council’s attempt to revoke its licence and can continue trading until that appeal is heard.
“We agree that the sale should not have taken place,” it said.
“When we were made aware of what had happened, we dismissed the person that made it.”
“Disgusting”
Independent councillor Natasha Summers, chair of Havering’s licensing committee, said she was “appalled”.
“What happened was absolutely disgusting,” she said.
“There’s no way it should have a licence now. Hopefully they will get their comeuppance.
“As far as I’m concerned, they are as much to blame as the kids.”
Jurors heard how after going on a rampage with the fireworks on October 28 2021, Cooper dared the younger boy to post one into a house.
The boy posted it into an address in Queens Park Road, igniting a fire in Josephine’s kitchen, which burned through the ceiling into the upstairs where she was sleeping.
She was found dead later that night from smoke inhalation.
Family “haunted”
“The issue surrounding the sale of fireworks to the public is a fight that we intend to continue,” said Josephine’s son Alan.
He made the statement on the family’s behalf outside the Old Bailey after Cooper was convicted on Friday, February 17.
“The irresponsible way those fireworks were sold on the night haunts all of us that have seen the footage,” he said.
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The Recorder asked the Metropolitan Police Service to release the footage, which was played in open court, so the wider public could see it.
The force refused. Asked why, it would provide no explanation.
Havering Council said that in August 2022 it had revoked the business’s licence.
“However, due to an appeal by the business being upheld by the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions, they are still able to trade until that appeal is heard,” a spokesperson said.
Fireworks4Sale
Fireworks4Sale had already been in trouble just weeks before selling Cooper the killer firework.
Luke Vardy, the company’s owner, "refused" to shut down his shops or switch to a click and collect service during Covid lockdown, Havering Council said.
He was “offered guidance” which he “refused to follow”, the authority said, and was then issued fixed penalty notices, which he “refused to acknowledge”.
On October 5, 2021, he eventually admitted two charges of breaching Covid restrictions at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court. He was ordered to pay more than £4,000 in fines and court fees.
Tory councillor Viddy Persaud – then cabinet member for enforcement – said the business’s refusal to obey Covid rules had put Havering people “at risk”.
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Just three weeks later, on October 28, the Harold Wood store sold the fireworks to Cooper.
“We would like to express our sympathy for Mrs Smith’s family over what happened in this tragic incident,” the company told the Recorder.
“We are exceptionally disappointed that our training, policies and instructions seem to have been ignored when the sale was made.
“We have made it clear to other staff that this sale was entirely unacceptable and have used it to re-emphasise the training that we provide.
“We have since provided extra staff training using a package that is provided by a Trading Standards authority, but there is clearly a lesson to be learned for all retailers of fireworks.”
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