Council and democracy

Counterfeit vodka trader fined £3000

Mohammed Sidique, 39, of V4 Food and Wine in Bensham Lane, was convicted at Croydon Magistrates Court on Monday of two offences under the Trade Marks Act.

The court heard how the council's trading standards officers discovered six suspect bottles of the popular vodka brand, Glen's, during an inspection of Mr Sidique's grocery store and off-licence in July and August 2007.

The bottles were seized and later confirmed to be counterfeit. They contained a low-strength substitute spirit.

Mr Sidique, who had pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing, was fined £400 for each offence and £500 for two offences under the Trade Descriptions Act, including one for obstruction of an authorised officer by failing to produce the invoices related to the bottles of alcohol in question.

The district judge also awarded the council costs of £1,629. The judge did not accept Mr Sidique's defence that he had relied on the wholesaler to check that the alcohol was genuine. He had been unable to produce invoices to prove from where he had obtained them.

The total cost to Mr Sidique for his case of counterfeit vodka was almost £3,000.

Councillor Steve O'Connell, cabinet member for safety and cohesion, said:  "Unscrupulous traders who try to con local people into buying fake goods are bad news both for consumers and the many reputable companies trading in the borough. Traders have no way of knowing the true contents of these bottles, bought from illegitimate sources, and put the health of local consumers at serious risk. The message is clear - we will not tolerate this type of trader in Croydon and we will prosecute anyone found selling counterfeit goods."
 
Anyone who is suspicious of goods they have been offered can have them checked by the council's trading standards service by phoning Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or emailing trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk.