A FEMALE Workington shop worker didn’t even look up as she sold alcohol to an under-age customer.

As a result of that lapse in concentration and failing to challenge what turned out to be a 16-year-old police cadet, 23-year-old Karla Askew found herself in the dock at the town’s magistrates’ court.

Prosecutor Pam Fee said her offence was committed on October 8 last year.

“Officers were conducting a test purchasing operation with regards to alcohol.”

This came amid reports that alcohol was being sold to under-18 customers at the Simply Food & Drink off-licence in Murray Road.

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A police constable was present with a 16-year-old police cadet who bought six bottles of 4.8 per cent proof lager Beck’s, paying £6.25.

“The sale was made without any challenge and the cadet has then left the store,” said Ms Fee.

“The defendant (Askew) was the person who has sold the alcohol.”

“I didn’t even talk or look at him,” Askew had later said having been asked how old she thought the cadet was.

“She did regret her actions,” Ms Fee told the court.

Askew, of Wesley Street, Workington, pleaded guilty to a charge of selling alcohol to a person aged under 18.

She was not represented by a solicitor during the hearing. But she was asked for her comments about the incident.

“It was just that I was on my own in the shop. I did actually mention it,” she told magistrates. “I was under stress with the number of people coming in.

“Apart from that I was just distracted. It was my fault.”

The court heard she no longer worked at the off-licence. She was employed at a different store — but not on the till.

Magistrates gave Askew a discount for her prompt guilty plea as they fined her £132. She was also ordered to pay costs and a mandatory surcharge.

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