A Rusholme newsagent has failed to kick an expensive tobacco habit having been fined twice in two years for selling illegal cigarettes and tobacco – the most recent of which totalled nearly £4,000.
Jilani Mumtaz, trading as Jilani’s Newsagents, Wilmslow Road, Rusholme, was found guilty at Manchester Magistrates Court for selling illicit tobacco.
Mr Mumtaz failed to attend court and the case was proved in his absence. He was order to pay a fine of £2,000 with costs of £1,740 and a victim surcharge of £200.
Manchester City Council trading standards officers visited the Rusholme store in January this year and found 6940 cigarettes, 1kg of rolling tobacco and 94 items of smokeless products – including snuff.
The magistrate took into account when sentencing that Mr Mumtaz had been previously prosecuted for the same offence in December 2014 – when he was fined £1000 with costs of £845.
Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council executive member for neighbourhoods said. "Those involved in dealing in illegal tobacco may be encouraging people, including children to smoke by providing a cheap source.
"Our trading standards team did an excellent job of getting these products off Manchester shop shelves, and this prosecutions should serve as a warning that we take this very seriously and will bring those responsible for this trade before the courts."
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