Ubique Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Herefordshire CC press releaseHereford store owner convicted of selling illicit tobacco26-02-2015 04:00 AM GMTRekan Gafoor (29) from Coventry was sentenced to a community penalty of 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £800 on Tuesday 24 February at Hereford Magistrates’ Court.Find it hard to understand the apparent light Sentance , and the high Costs ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ubique Posted February 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Rekan Gafoor (29) from Coventry was sentenced to a community penalty of 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £800 on Tuesday 24 February at Hereford Magistrates’ Court. He was the former owner of International Food, Commercial Road, Hereford and pled guilty to offences under consumer protection legislation. The case had been brought by Herefordshire Council’s trading standards service. The court heard how Mr Gafoor had been caught in the act of selling counterfeit tobacco last September by an officer who had gone into the shop to make a test purchase. In total eight test purchases were made over a seven month period to show the extent of the operation. The International Food shop has been found to be selling cheap illicit tobacco products over the past four years under various owners. Herefordshire Council’s head of trading standards & licensing, Mike Pigrem, said “Mr Gafoor took over the running of the shop in February 2014, following a raid on the premises where illegal cigarettes were found hidden inside doors, in walls and under floors. “Despite the verbal assurances given by Mr Gafoor that he would not sell illicit tobacco, it soon became evident that these were false. “These premises have acquired a notorious reputation for selling illicit product and are therefore the target of repeated enforcement action. “Where evidence is obtained confirming possession or a sale of illicit product, then the matter will be put before the courts for sentencing. The sale and supply of illicit tobacco is a national problem which has a serious impact on both the health and wealth of the nationâ€. Anyone with information on people dealing in illegal tobacco products should contact Trading Standards on 01432 261761†Photos Trading standards officers recently had 400kg of seized illicit cigarettes and tobacco destroyed at a recycling plant. This represented £60,000 worth of illegal products seized in the previous two years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dippyhippy Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 This punishment is barely more than a rap on the knuckles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Rekan Gafoor (29) from Coventry was sentenced to a community penalty of 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £800 Whatever 'Organisation' is behind that shop is now £800 out of pocket .... They might go on their computer to compare that to the profit they made from their Enterprise to date I suppose .... (debit the seized stock). If worthwhile they will ship in a new guy with a clean UK record! I'm sure there are one or two available! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbobobby Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 This type of activity is rife - not only in the city, but at other locations across the county and even wider. Without the courts accepting the seriousness of the offence and applying a harsh punishment it will continue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 100 hours community service, are they taking the p i s s ? How is this a deterrent?? Rekan Gafoor (29) from Coventry was sentenced to a community penalty of 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £800 on Tuesday 24 February at Hereford Magistrates’ Court. He was the former owner of International Food, Commercial Road, Hereford and pled guilty to offences under consumer protection legislation. The case had been brought by Herefordshire Council’s trading standards service. The court heard how Mr Gafoor had been caught in the act of selling counterfeit tobacco last September by an officer who had gone into the shop to make a test purchase. In total eight test purchases were made over a seven month period to show the extent of the operation. The International Food shop has been found to be selling cheap illicit tobacco products over the past four years under various owners. Herefordshire Council’s head of trading standards & licensing, Mike Pigrem, said “Mr Gafoor took over the running of the shop in February 2014, following a raid on the premises where illegal cigarettes were found hidden inside doors, in walls and under floors. “Despite the verbal assurances given by Mr Gafoor that he would not sell illicit tobacco, it soon became evident that these were false. “These premises have acquired a notorious reputation for selling illicit product and are therefore the target of repeated enforcement action. “Where evidence is obtained confirming possession or a sale of illicit product, then the matter will be put before the courts for sentencing. The sale and supply of illicit tobacco is a national problem which has a serious impact on both the health and wealth of the nationâ€. Anyone with information on people dealing in illegal tobacco products should contact Trading Standards on 01432 261761†Trading standards officers recently had 400kg of seized illicit cigarettes and tobacco destroyed at a recycling plant. This represented £60,000 worth of illegal products seized in the previous two years. Photo's Source Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin James Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 To be honest, I thought the exact same thing, 100 hours community service is no deterrent and I am sure this will not be the last we hear of these shops selling illegal tobacco, especially with small sentences like this be handed out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dippyhippy Posted March 1, 2015 Report Share Posted March 1, 2015 Hi Alex, this is the same story which Unique posted a few days ago! ("Not more cheap fags")It's still on the front page and has a few comments already. Perhaps Colin could merge the two threads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin James Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 Hi Alex, this is the same story which Unique posted a few days ago! ("Not more cheap fags")It's still on the front page and has a few comments already. Perhaps Colin could merge the two threads? Well spotted dippy, I have merged them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 2, 2015 Report Share Posted March 2, 2015 There are hundreds of people who could be shifted in to 'front' up new Management and take the next conviction when it comes .... Just organised crime .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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