A shop worker who flouted two warnings over the sale of illegal tobacco products was arrested after a third visit by council trading standards officers.
Sharmeran Hussin was seen walking towards the Shildon Mini Market from the direction of his car parked near to the Church Street premises during that third visit by officers, on November 22, 2022.
Durham Crown Court heard the officers conducted a search of the Ford Focus and found a large number of packets of counterfeit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.
Paul Rooney, prosecuting, said the CCTV was examined, revealing that as the officers arrived, when a female colleague was serving in the shop, Hussin was seen to run from the premises carrying the large hold-all bag, later which was later found in the car.
Mr Rooney said officers had previously attended, a month earlier, after intelligence was received over the sale of illegal tobacco products at the shop.
Hussin was present and in a search a Sports Direct bag was found behind the counter containing counterfeit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.
All the seized packets bore unauthorised trademarks and so Hussin was cautioned and the illegal tobacco products were seized.
The defendant claimed he did not understand the officers and so he rang a friend, “Ali”, who translated for him into Kurdish Sorani.
Hussin then accepted he understood what was said.
Mr Rooney said the defendant was warned the sale of such items was illegal.
A test purchase operation was then carried out at the shop on November 11, 2022, when the defendant sold two packets of Richmond Cigarettes to the officers, for £10.
On examination these were also found to be illegal and so officers attended the premises later the same day.
He was asked if there were any similar products at the shop and he handed over a sports bag containing various counterfeit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco.
Hussin was again warned and told he would be interviewed in due course.
Mr Rooney said the November 22 visit by the trading standards investigators followed a further test purchase when a female assistant sold an undercover officer two packets of illicit cigarettes, also for £10.
When Hussin was interviewed, in February 2023, assisted by an interpreter, he accepted having bought the illegal products which were sold to the test purchaser.
He claimed he was acting under the direction of others but accepted selling them of his own volition.
Mr Rooney said a co-accused, Claire Ranson, 43, of Cambridge Drive, Willington, a woman of previous good character, who admitted the same charge, received a two-year conditional discharge at the court in March.
She was also ordered to pay £250 costs.
Annelise Haugstad, for Hussin, said he was only working at the shop for a short period, having acquired the job through, “the friend of a friend”, and he had little control over Miss Ranson.
Miss Haugstad told the court the defendant is no longer working but has employment prospects in a car wash or market, depending upon availability.
“That sort of activity inevitably comes to the attention of trading standards.”
Recorder Reid said it was only fair to impose a similar sentence as was passed on the defendant’s co-accused, earlier this year.
He made Hussin subject of a two-year conditional discharge but warned him to keep out of trouble in that period and beyond.
Shildon Mini Market closed after council operation on illegal tobacco
60,000 illegal cigarettes seized in County Durham crackdown
Bazar store, Gladstone Street, Darlington closed by officers
Recorder Reid said there was “no reason” why Hussin should not pay £500 costs at the rate of £50 per month to reflect his role in the illegal sales.
He also ordered forfeiture and destruction of the seized tobacco products.
-
The shop was subject of a three-month closure order imposed by Newton Aycliffe magistrates, in December 2022, following an application by the county council, due to the sale of the illegal products.
Share