Swoop by Trading Standards officers revealed counterfeit products on sale in Cleethorpes shop

The owner of this Cleethorpes business was unaware of any unlawful activity on the premises

A GRIMSBY man has been heavily fined after he admitted selling counterfeit products at a Cleethorpes shop while it was under his management.

Martins Kintsons (43), of Convamore Road, faced seven charges under the Trade Descriptions Act when he appeared before magistrates.

The offences came to light on October 5 last year when  North East Lincolnshire Council Trading Standards officers and Humberside Police Community Team visited A-Z Booze in St Peter’s Avenue.

A number of the cigarettes and pouches of tobacco were  found to be counterfeit copies of genuine brands.

Meanwhile, vaping bars were all found to have internal reservoirs well in excess of the 2ml legal limit, with them all having between 10 and 14ml of nicotine liquid. 

Some of the seized vaping bars also contained nicotine liquid at a strength two and a half times the legal limit, having a nicotine content of five per cent when the legal maximum is two per cent. 

These devices were  intended for the American market and did not bear the warnings, adequate labelling and traceability information required by UK law.

In total, 674 illegal disposable vape bars, 3,720 illegal cigarettes (186 packs) and 53 x 50g pouches of illegal hand rolling tobacco were found to be on sale.

The Grimsby Bench heard that, at the time of the inspection, Klintsons was in charge, having been appointed to run the business on behalf of the owner who worked away and rarely visited the premises. 

Interviewed by Trading Standards officers, he admitted he had purchased the illegal vapes, cigarettes and tobacco to sell in the shop without informing his employer. 

He said that he had done this in order to supplement his wages and make extra money to support his growing family.

Klitsons was fined a total of £850 after pleading guilty to seven charges. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £340.

Sentencing, District Judge Curtis noted that the defendant had been manager of the business for a relatively short time, received none of the profits and was not the owner or director of the company - otherwise the fine would have been "significantly higher".

Following the hearing, Cllr Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities, said: "I am very pleased with this result and proud to see our Trading Standards team at the forefront of dealing with the current craze for illegal vaping.

"This case shows that the same people who are peddling illegal tobacco are behind the ever-increasing trade in illegal disposable vape bars. 

"All tobacco is harmful, but illegal tobacco tends to be priced much cheaper, making it easier for children to start smoking and get hooked.

"The illicit tobacco and vape trade also has strong links to organised crime and criminal gangs, so those buying these products are often pouring money into things like people smuggling, drug dealing, money laundering and even terrorism.

"Even small-time local sellers can be at the end of a long criminal chain."