Harold Wood shop worker admits firework sale to killer teen

Josephine Smith, 88, died from smoke inhalation after the teen, encouraged by then 18-year-old Kai Cooper, posted a firework through the letterbox of her home in Queens Park Road, Harold Wood on October 28, 2021.

Cooper and the younger boy were locked up last year after a jury convicted them of arson and manslaughter. 

At Romford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (April 23) Mark Vardy, who was working at Fireworks 4 Sale in Station Road, pleaded guilty to two charges of selling fireworks to a person under 18. 

CCTV footage showed the 59-year-old shop worker selling fireworks to the pair despite Cooper telling him they planned to use the fireworks to commit crimes.  

Cooper even asked the shopkeeper which were the best fireworks to “let off at people”, adding that he wanted ones which would emit “multiple pops”.   

Josephine’s son, Alan, told the Recorder: “Whilst we realise that Fireworks 4 Sale were not directly responsible for mum’s death, a simple no from a seemingly responsible adult could have prevented a lot of pain for our family.”   

The shop has since had its licence revoked and company director Luke Vardy has now agreed to remove the shop's Fireworks 4 Sale signs which had been a painful reminder for Josephine’s family. 

Fireworks4Sale is on Station Road, Harold Wood, a short walk from Josephine Smith's home in Queens Park Road (Image: Google Streetview)

‘People are going to get terrorised’ 

The two boys had entered Fireworks 4 Sale together at about 7.45pm on the night of Josephine’s death. 

CCTV showed the teens telling Mark Vardy they planned to use the fireworks to commit crimes.  

“People are going to get terrorised,” said Cooper, who also told the shopkeeper he was going to throw fireworks at people’s faces.   

Cooper bought the first firework before the younger boy approached Mark Vardy and said: “I’m here to buy some now.” 

Kai Cooper was convicted on February 17, 2023, of Josephine Smith's manslaughter (Image: Met Police)He told Mark Vardy he was 16 and despite this the shop worker sold him two fireworks – one with Cooper acting as a proxy and one directly to the younger boy. 

“It was clear that the fireworks were going to be used in a nefarious way by the child,” said prosecutor Ryan Thompson. 

The two boys then left the shop and immediately began throwing the fireworks in the street.   

The Old Bailey heard that Cooper “dared” his friend to post a firework into Josephine’s home, causing a fire and her death through smoke inhalation. 

Cooper, formerly of Cleeve Court, Leatherhead, was given six-and-a-half years in prison, plus another two on licence.  

The younger boy was given three years and eight months. 

Mark Vardy pictured leaving Romford Magistrates' Court (Image: Romford Recorder)

‘Watching the footage was very difficult’ 

At Romford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday both Mark Vardy and LMV Enterprises – which trades as Fireworks 4 Sale – entered guilty pleas to two charges relating to the sale of a flare and a mega blast firework to the younger boy. 

After the hearing Alan Smith said: “Watching and hearing the CCTV footage from inside Fireworks 4 Sale was very difficult.  

“It should have been obvious from the conversations that took place that the fireworks were going to be used for causing trouble and subsequently prevented the sale from going ahead.  

“Instead the salesperson for Fireworks 4 Sale decided to proceed with the sale and sell the fireworks that were used to take our mum’s life."

Josephine Smith's family - including son Alan (second from right) outside the Old Bailey (Image: Charles Thomson)Alan said the guilty pleas had given them some closure to a two-and-a-half-year nightmare, and says he hopes the sentences Mark Vardy and LMV Enterprises receive will reflect the pain they had contributed to. 

District Judge Susan Holdham adjourned sentencing until June 4 to allow for a probation report on Mark Vardy, with a prison sentence of up to three months being a realistic possibility. 

Licencing saga 

When the two teenagers were sentenced in February 2023, Fireworks 4 Sale remained open.  

Havering Council had revoked its licence in 2022 but the shop launched an appeal with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), allowing it to continue trading until that appeal was heard.       

But that appeal was abandoned in July and the fireworks licence was surrendered in September 2023.   

Josephine Smith (Image: The Smith family)

The Recorder had been blocked from reporting this until now due to the active legal proceedings.  

Natasha Summers, an independent councillor who is chair of Havering’s licencing committee, told the Recorder in October that she was “appalled” by the shop’s “absolutely disgusting” behaviour.   

“As far as I’m concerned, they are as much to blame as the kids,” she said.  

The business previously expressed its sympathy for Josephine’s family, saying it was “exceptionally disappointed” that its “training, policies and instructions” were ignored by the worker who served the teens.  

During the hearing, identical charges brought against Luke Vardy (Mark’s son and the sole director of the company) were dropped. 

Prosecutor Mr Thompson said: “It is no longer in the public interest to prosecute Luke Vardy in his role as director of the company.” 

Luke Vardy signed a memorandum agreeing to remove Fireworks 4 Sale signage at the Station Road shop, which Josephine’s family said had compounded their pain.