Legal News

Doncaster Council’s Trading Standards department has prosecuted two men for breaches of the Trade Marks Act & General Product Safety Regulations, after the seizure of 6,960 illicit cigarettes in a raid on two premises.

Edris Mohammed of Leva Mini Market in Sandringham Road, Doncaster was prosecuted for breach of Trade Marks Act & General Product Safety Regulations. At Doncaster Magistrates’ Court, Mohammed was sentenced to a 12-month community order, with 40 hours of unpaid work – as well as £700 in costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Trading Standards officers found 180 packets (3,600 sticks) of illicit tobacco, along with one packet of Golden Virginia-branded hand-rolling tobacco in the shop – the haul included some cigarettes that were unsafe, as they did not self-extinguish.

Mohammed Abdul Khader of Lifestyle Express, Rockingham Road in Wheatley, Doncaster was sentenced for a breach of the Trade Marks Act & General Product Safety Regulations.

Khader was also sentenced to a 12-month community order, £700 in costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

A total of 3,360 cigarettes from 18 different brands were seized at the premises – three of the brands were counterfeit and two were tested for ignition propensity and did not self-extinguish, making them unsafe.

After sentencing, Assistant Director of Environment at Doncaster Council, Gill Gillies, said:

“Anyone involved in selling illegal tobacco is encouraging people – including children – to smoke by providing a cheap source.

“These products are dangerous – and offenders need to understand that they will face consequences if they choose to sell them.

“I would urge anyone with information about the supply of illicit tobacco to contact us via the Citizen’s Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506.”

Doncaster Council director of public health, Dr Rupert Suckling, added:

“All tobacco is harmful, but the supply of illegal cigarettes seriously undermines the drive to reduce smoking, fuels organised criminality – and is often a gateway for young people to becoming addicted to a habit which prematurely kills over half its users.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers – Public Protection Offences

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers can advise at any stage of a public protection offence, including charges involving selling counterfeit goods, selling illicit alcohol or tobacco products, weights and measures issues, mislabelling offences, food hygiene breaches, selling restricted items to minors, breaches of health and safety regulations – and selling or offering for sale produce which fails to meet minimum quality standards.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and Duncan Lewis can advise on police raids and premises inspections by Trading Standards or local authority fraud teams.

For expert legal advice on public protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

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