The owner of two shops in Exmouth has hit out at an ‘unfair’ court order to shut for three months over illegal vape and tobacco sales, telling magistrates he ‘never’ acted unlawfully.
A three‑month closure order has been granted on two vape shops in Exmouth, at 19 Rolle Street and 21B Parade, both operated by the same shop owner, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
Miss Sam Pengelly, prosecutor for Devon and Cornwall Police, said the vape shop at 19 Rolle Street, previously a Santander bank, had been on the radar of police and trading standards since February 3 this year.
Since opening, the business had allegedly sold illegal tobacco and vapes to a broad customer base, at prices described as “extremely cheap and accessible”.
The Classic Mini Market in Rolle Street, Exmouth, has been ordered to close for three months.
Photo: D&C Police.
Miss Pengelly said the activity was well known in the area and discussed frequently on local online community pages. She told the court the illegal sales were having a wider anti‑social impact, attracting criminality to the area.
Concerns were also raised about people connected to the premises being immigration overstayers or in the country illegally. Police further suspected money laundering, with large sums of cash reportedly being passed “hand to hand”.
Neighbourhood officers carried out multiple visits to the premises and conducted test purchases. The landlord of both properties told police that he considered the new tenants reliable and confirmed that he undertakes no anti‑money‑laundering or due‑diligence checks before approving new tenants.
The court heard that on one occasion five men were seen rushing out of the Rolle Street shop, with one male bleeding and another holding a hammer. Police believe the incident may have been linked to competition from another vape shop opening in Exmouth.
Police are seen here displaying the official closure notice outside Classic Mini Market, in Rolle Street, Exmouth.
Photo: D&C Police.
On February 24, officers observed under‑counter cigarette sales. When police attempted to speak to two men, both ran off, discarding packets of cigarettes as they fled.
On February 28, a man known to work at the Rolle Street shop was stop‑searched in his vehicle. Police seized cigarettes worth around £3,000 and approximately £1,500 worth of hand‑rolling tobacco.
Further concerns arose on March 5, when the shop owner was seen handing a black bag to an unknown man. Two mobile phones were seized, along with a significant amount of tobacco. Officers also discovered evidence of people sleeping in unused rooms at the Rolle Street property.
Trading standards officers carried out test purchases on March 13 and March 17, confirming that illegal tobacco was being sold at both premises and that the two shops were operating in conjunction.
Police outside Phone Zone, on The Parade, now closed for three months.
Photo: D&C Police.
Miss Pengelly told the court that Exmouth was being “detrimentally affected” by the anti‑social behaviour and criminal activity linked to the shops, adding that a full closure order was necessary. She confirmed the shop owner remains under investigation for three offences.
The shop owner appeared in court to oppose the closure orders, telling magistrates: “I don’t think this is fair for my shop to close down. My income is coming from the shop They try to make my shop liable for selling illegal tobacco, have they found any inside the shop?
“There’s no room for anyone to sleep in the property. When I was fasting, I would have a short nap on the premises… I have always worked and paid my tax. I am trying to build up my own business. I never want to run anything illegal in the shops and I am happy to cooperate in any way I can, as long as I can continue my business.”
The court heard that the vape shop on 21B Parade, in the centre of Exmouth and owned by the same landlord, came to the attention of police and trading standards at a similar time for allegedly selling counterfeit and non‑duty‑paid tobacco.
Pengelly said the premises had previously been closed by Exeter Magistrates’ Court last year under a different owner, describing it as “extremely disappointing that we find ourselves here again”.
Police expressed concern that illegal stock was not kept on site and could not be traced. Pengelly said the shop owner failed to provide evidence that regulated, tax‑paid tobacco products were being stocked.
The shop owner told the court he had only purchased the Parade shop seven days ago, and any criminal behaviour there was not his responsibility.
Magistrates granted full three‑month closure orders on both premises.
