Sheffield shop owner avoids jail after selling fake cigarettes for second time

Osman Kadir, of Anns Road, Rotherham, has been ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and pay £460 after Trading Standards officials seized thousands of fake cigarettes and tobacco.

Sheffield Magistrates' Court heard Kadir, owner of Abbey Stop Shop on Abbeydale Road, now called The Eastern European Mini Market, was prosecuted in January 2016 for the first time.

This was for selling illicit and counterfeit tobacco products after they were found on the premises by Sheffield Trading Standards inspectors.

Kadir pleaded guilty to offences and was fined £300 and ordered to pay £450 costs.

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

Kadir pleaded guilty for a second time..

The court heard inspectors seized 3560 illicit or counterfeit cigarettes and 5 x 50g packets of counterfeit hand rolling tobacco. The cigarettes and tobacco was ordered to be destroyed.

Coun Bryan Lodge, cabinet member for the environment at Sheffield Council, said: “We are very concerned about the sale of cheap and illicit tobacco and work hard to reduce availability, supply and demand.

"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 low price and easy availability of illegal tobacco encourages people to keep smoking, and children and young people are often targeted by unscrupulous traders."

*People can report concerns about the sale of illicit tobacco or underage sales to the national trading standards advice line on 03454 040506.