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LEILA GHAHHARY ACTS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY TRADING STANDARDS UNIT IN SUCCESSFUL MULTI-HANDED TRADE MARK PROSECUTION

Following an investigation by Oldham Council’s Trading Standard Unit, Leila Ghahhary (Instructed by Oldham Council) has successfully prosecuted four defendants who were found to have repeatedly stocked and sold counterfeit tobacco from two shops in the area of Oldham.

Manchester Crown Court heard that searches took place at both stores after Oldham’s Trading Standards Unit received complaints about the quality of tobacco which had been bought by customers.

Sniffer dogs helped trading standards officers and police to uncover stashes of illegal cigarettes and tobacco at the shops in Oldham town centre. The counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco were hidden behind false panels and flooring at the Polish Food Store on Yorkshire Street and Eastern Europe Food Store on Union Street.

The counterfeit items included Mayfair cigarettes and Golden Virginia rolling tobacco and although much of the other stock was legitimate, it was produced outside the UK and broke consumer law by not bearing the correct health warnings.

Three defendants received custodial sentences suspended for 18 months, were ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and were told to each pay £2,000 in costs.

A fourth defendant, who the court was told was acting under instructions in selling counterfeit goods, received 120 hours’ unpaid work and was ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Mort told the defendants: “It has been suggested that trading standards are not rigorously enforced in the countries from which you came, but you knew it was wrong to sell these goods, which is why you took so much trouble to hide them.”