Trader ordered to pay almost £1,000 after counterfeit tobacco seized

Action from Islington Council and local police has left an Islington trader facing a bill of almost £1,000 after he was found in possession of counterfeit tobacco he was planning to sell.

 

Mr Albert Sheddon, of Ilford, was fined £120 and ordered to pay legal costs of £840 after he pleaded guilty at Highbury Magistrates Court last week (8th September 2016).

 

He was charged following an investigation carried out by the police and the council’s Trading Standards team.

 

Police initially spotted Mr Sheddon acting suspiciously on the corner of Whitecross Street and Roscoe Street, EC1Y. A total of 2,400 foreign-labelled or counterfeit cigarettes were seized, along with 43 pouches of rolling tobacco. 

 

The court made an order allowing the Trading Standards team to destroy the seized goods.

 

Islington Council’s executive member for finance, performance, and community safety, Cllr Andy Hull, said: “This prosecution sends a clear signal that the council will not tolerate traders who sell illegal and harmful products, which undercut our local businesses.

 

“Most traders operate well within the law, but we will take action against those who don’t.”

 

If anyone has any concerns or suspicions about illegal tobacco being sold within the borough, they can contact Islington Council’s Trading Standards team by email trading.standards@islington.gov.uk or by calling 03454 04 05 06.

 

Cheap tobacco can encourage people to start smoking and make it more difficult for them to quit.

 

The estimated loss to the tax-payer from the illegal tobacco market was £2.1bn for the year 2013-14m, according to HMRC.

On top of this there are costs to the health service and loss of profit to UK corporations and legitimate tobacco sellers.