THE OWNER of one of Scotland’s most respected independent stores has become the latest ‘highly responsible’ retailer to fall foul of the underage sales trap.

James Wrobel, whose Cornelius off-licence in Edinburgh is acclaimed for offering one of the widest ranges of speciality beers in Scotland, has been forced to close for two weeks after being caught out in a test purchase ‘sting’ by police.

The suspension of Mr Wrobel’s licence and the temporary closure of his store will add fuel to those who claim test purchasing is a form of entrapment that is increasingly catching out even the most responsible retailers who have preventative measures in place such as refusals registers, specialist staff training and challenge 25 policies.

It comes just weeks after we revealed how Asian Trader of the Year Raj Samani, who has a host of measures in place to guard against underage sales, also fell foul of a test-purchasing operation when a member of staff at his prize-winning store in Hertfordshire sold alcohol to a youngster who appeared older than his years. Mr Samani did not have his licence suspended.

Mr Wrobel, who served the first youngster sent in by police himself, said he felt highly embarrassed by his error. "I have been doing this for 15 years and I am pretty sure it is the first underager I have sold to and it was a test purchaser. It’s sod’s law."

The shopkeeper received a warning for the offence. His licence was temporarily suspended after an employee, who has subsequently left the store, failed to ask for ID from another youngster sent in by police.

This meant the shop had to shut down for two weeks until February 9, losing the business tens of thousands of pounds worth of sales.

Licensing chairman councillor Marjorie Thomas described the Cornelius store as an "upmarket asset" to the community. "It is extremely disappointing to have a premises like this suffer these problems," she added.

The number of businesses in Edinburgh prosecuted for selling alcohol to under-18s doubled last year as police stepped up test purchasing operations in the wake of concerns over binge drinking.