Crime Solicitors

Sheffield Trading Standards has prosecuted a shop owner found selling illegal tobacco for a second time.

Osman Kadir of St Anns Road in Rotherham – owner of Abbey Stop Shop, Abbeydale Road in Sheffield, now called The Eastern European Mini Market – was prosecuted in January 2016 for the first time for selling illicit and counterfeit tobacco products.

The illegal tobacco products were found on the premises by Sheffield Trading Standards inspectors.

Kadir pleaded guilty to offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Consumer Protection Act – he was fined £300 and ordered to pay £450 in costs.

However, just a few weeks later on 9 March, Sheffield Trading Standards carried out a follow up inspection and again found a substantial amount of illicit and counterfeit tobacco products in a purpose-built concealment.

On the 18 October, Mr Kadir again pleaded guilty to offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Consumer Protection Act.

He was sentenced to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community service and was ordered to pay £400 towards costs and a surcharge of £60. The Magistrates ordered the seized tobacco to be destroyed.

After the hearing, Cabinet Member for Environment at Sheffield City Council, Councillor Bryan Lodge, said:

“We are very concerned about the sale of cheap and illicit tobacco – and work hard to reduce availability, supply and demand.

“Mr Kadir did not learn from his previous offence and continued to present a risk to the community. It is fitting that he will now serve the community with 150 hours of his time.

“I sincerely hope that this will be the last time we see Mr Kadir in court – and that this sends a clear message to others that we will not tolerate this illegal activity.”

The seized goods included 3,560 illicit or counterfeit cigarettes and five 50g packets of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco.

Trading Standards says that the low price and easy availability of illegal tobacco encourages people to keep smoking – and children and young people are often targeted by unscrupulous traders.

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers

Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers can advise at any stage of a charge of public protection offence – including breaches of Trade Mark law, selling illegal cigarettes or alcohol, counterfeit clothes, perfumes, DVDs or CDs and unlicensed medications.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales – and more than 20 offices across London and the southeast.
Duncan Lewis is a leading provider of Legal Aid criminal defence services.

For expert legal advice on all criminal charges involving counterfeit goods, call Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers on 0333 772 0409.