A PUB boss who sold vodka made with industrial strength alcohol in North-East bars has been fined £10,000.

Businessman Sonny Gill was spared jail after he admitted selling spirits with the same chemical make up as screen wash.

Magistrates heard police and trading standards raided his premises in Consett and seized a total of 329 bottles of illicit liquor.

Officers raided the Coach and Horses and Chaplains on Front Street on November 8.

Gill Proud, prosecuting on behalf of Durham County Council, at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court, today, said: “Mr Gill has shown little regard for his customers. He has focussed on his profits by buying cheap alcohol.

“He has taken no steps to make sure the alcohol was safe. They are of industrial origin and therefore unfit for human consumption.

“The potential health of customers has been put at risk.”

The court was told 148 bottle of Kommissar vodka was recovered from the Coach and Horses and 174 bottle were seized at Chaplains along with seven bottles of Crown vodka.

Gill pleaded guilty three counts of failing to comply with EU food safety laws, displaying false labels, false trademarks and three counts of engaging in unfair commercial practices.

Gerry Bass, mitigating, said Gill, of Darras Road, Ponteland, had bought the vodka in good faith from a family friend and had no reason believe it was not genuine.

“He has been neglectful but did not connive it. He should have taken more care. He has always said he did not know it was counterfeit.”

The 30-year-old was warned he faced up to six months behind bars and a fine of up to £50,000.

He was told the bench had been lenient.

Chairman David Shallow said: “We have got a couple of chemists on this bench and we are concerned that this counterfeit vodka is extremely dangerous.

“Some of the constituent parts are extremely toxic. You hear of cases all the time where people drink this stuff with serious consequences. There have even been fatalities.”

As well as the £10,000 fine, Gill was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £1,000 and £1,085 in costs.

The bench rejected his offer of £200 a month payment and said he must pay £400 a month.

When he protested the bench said he paid over £400 in finance for his Mercedes Benz.

Mr Shallow said: “The bench has a duty to make sure payment is made.”

Proceedings against Ranjit Singh, of Mullen Road, Wallsend, a co-accused in the case, have been adjourned until November 27 and he has been granted unconditional bail has been granted.

He faces four counts of failing to comply with EU food safety laws, false labelling, false trademarks and two counts of engaging in unfair commercial practices.