Legal News

Wigan Council has prosecuted the owner of a pound shop for selling illicit tobacco from his store.

Mubarak Patel, 42 from Blackburn sold the illegal tobacco from Pound Bargain in Crompton Street.

Wigan Council’s Trading Standards team used trained sniffer dogs to uncover the tobacco, which had been thrown out of an upstairs window as Trading Standards officers entered the property with a warrant.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service later found the stash of cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco on the flat roof of the shop.

At Wigan Magistrates’ Court, Patel pleaded guilty to a charge under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Trade Marketing Act 1994. He was fined a total of £1,048.

After the hearing, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Kevin Anderson, said:

“This type of conduct from our local shops is absolutely appalling and will not be tolerated.

“Local, hardworking businesses are being put at risk by the selfish actions of people like Mr Patel – we will continue to work hard to stop this type of illegal behaviour from happening in our borough.”

Group Manager Regulation for the council, Julie Middlehurst, added:

“We will continue to crack down on illegal sales of tobacco and other counterfeit goods in Wigan Borough.

“It is not a victimless crime, as illegal sales can be a danger to our residents’ health and have been found to get into the hands of children.”

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis can advise at any stage of a public protection offence, including charges relating to selling illicit tobacco and alcohol, selling counterfeit goods, selling age-restricted goods, weights and measures offences, mislabelling offences, health and safety breaches and breaches of food hygiene.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and Duncan Lewis can advise at the start of a Trading Standards investigation and before charges are brought.

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