A SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD man was given a suspended prison sentence after admitting selling potentially dangerous counterfeit cigarettes from his home.

The illicit trade, selling imitations of well-known brands, proved costly, however, for James Simpson, from Seaham, who was handed a total court bill of more than £9,500.

Durham Crown Court heard his doorstep operation, from his home in Hawthorn Square, came to the attention of trading standards officers. who posed as customers., making numerous purchases.

Phillip Morley, prosecuting, said,many of the bought cigarettes were tested and found to be overly flammable, “an obvious health and safety hazard.”

Simpson admitted six counts of selling counterfeit cigarettes and was sentenced to 48 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to surrender £1,618, seized from his home by trading standards officers during the course of the investigation, pay £6,000 confiscation as proceeds of crime, and £2,000 costs to the council.