Scunthorpe shop owner and employees convicted of selling illegal cigarettes

A Scunthorpe shop owner and two of his employees have been convicted of selling illegal cigarettes.

Saman Rashid, the owner of Ashby Mini Market in Scunthorpe, and two of his employees, Tracey Read and Elizabeth Read were fined and handed suspended sentences for selling counterfeit goods.

North Lincolnshire Council’s Trading Standards team received two separate complaints about the sale of counterfeit tobacco from Ashby Mini Market on Ashby High Street.

A raid was carried out in July 2015.

In total 96 packets of cigarettes and 4.7 kilograms of tobacco were seized from the shop.

Also seized were 141 packets of cigarettes and 2.5 kilograms of tobacco from Rashid’s car, as well as counterfeit clothing.

Following this raid, three additional reports were received about Ashby Mini Market selling counterfeit tobacco between September and October 2015.

An inspection of the premises took place and 39 packets of illicit tobacco and 0.9 kilograms of tobacco were seized.

Rashid pleaded guilty to 11 counts in relation to the sale and the possession for sale of counterfeit tobacco and clothing, and two offences for possession for supply of tobacco without the correct health warnings.

He was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court on September 20 to nine months in prison, suspended for two years.

Rashid was also ordered to pay costs of £5,920 and a victim surcharge of £100.

He will have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and a five-day rehabilitation programme.

Tracey Read and Elizabeth Read attended Scunthorpe Magistrates’ Court on March 9 and were prosecuted for their involvement in the sale and supply of counterfeit cigarettes and illicit tobacco.

Tracey Read was sentenced to a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, a 10 day rehabilitation requirement and a curfew of 7pm to 7am for eight weeks.

She was ordered to pay £200 costs and a victim surcharge of £80.

Elizabeth Read was sentenced to an eight week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and 150 hours of unpaid work.

She was ordered to pay £200 and a victim surcharge of £80.

Councillor Richard Hannigan, cabinet member for governance and transformation, said: “Let this be a warning to people selling or supplying counterfeit goods – you will get caught. This is a very serious crime and will not be tolerated.”