SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has been fined £300 for selling cigarettes to a 14-year-old boy.

The prosecution is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland.

The boy bought the cigarettes at the Tesco Express store on Glasgow's Argyle Street during a test purchase for the city council.

He was not asked for proof of age despite the supermarket chain's policy.

The boy was accompanied by a council employee who secretly filmed the sale, which happened on March 5 last year.

Sheriff John McCormick fined the supermarket £300 reduced from £450 because of the guilty plea.

The maximum fine for selling cigarettes to someone aged under 18 is £2500.

Procurator fiscal depute Derek Buchanan said: "The volunteer bought 10 cigarettes from a sales assistant at that branch of Tesco.

"The volunteer was not asked for proof of any identification."

Officials from the council returned to the shop on March 7 and spoke to a manager who said Tesco operates a Think 25 policy for alcohol, cigarettes and lottery tickets. At the end of February, Tesco paid three fixed penalty fines of £200 for selling cigarettes to under-age children. Two of the cases were in Glasgow and one in South Ayrshire.

A spokesman for the supermarket said: "We take tobacco legislation very seriously and have rigorous procedures to prevent the sale of tobacco to minors.

"We provide support for colleagues in our stores to make sure they understand their role and their personal responsibility. This ensures cases like this one occur infrequently."

A council spokesman said test purchasing is used to check businesses comply with the law.

He added: "As a result, it is successful at exposing businesses which sell tobacco unlawfully.

"It is therefore disappointing such a serious offence has been dealt with so leniently."

Sheila Duffy, chief executive of anti-smoking group ASH Scotland, said: "This prosecution sends an important message that Scotland will not tolerate the sale of this lethal and addictive product to children."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk