A SHOPKEEPER tried to claim to Bolton Council officials that illegal cigarettes found at his off-licence were for his own use.

Wigan Magistrates’ Court heard how the local authority visited the Mini Mart Off Licence on Longcauseway, Farnworth, in July 2019 and discovered cigarettes and tobacco which were not legally packaged.

The regulations breached included not having the relevant health warnings on packaging. packets being the wrong colour, and the products falsely purporting to be Richmond, Amber Leaf and Regal brands.

Chaudary Rehman, ceased to own the store a short time later, told inspectors all of the items were for his personal use and that there was no CCTV available from the premises to prove otherwise..

Inspectors found that one of the packets was abled to be scanned in the shop but Rehman then fiddled with the till so that no more items could be scanned.

Rehman, aged 38, of Falconwood Chase, Worsley, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing goods with a false trademark with a view to sale, two counts of supplying tobacco not carrying the proper health warning and two of supplying tobacco products in wrongly coloured packaging.

Colette Renton, prosecuting, told the court that inspectors had found 46 packets of cigarettes and 11 packets of rolling tobacco.

“All of these items were illegal to sell in the UK,” she said.

“On 11 packets of rolling tobacco there was no health warning or the 46 packets of cigarettes.

“36 packets of cigarettes purported to be from the brand Richmond.

“One packet of cigarettes containing three cigarettes was purported to be from Regal.

“One pouch of rolling tobacco purported to be from Amber Leaf.”

Rehman, who represented himself in court, declined to say anything on his own behalf.

Chair of the bench John Mason sentenced Rehman to a 12-month community order which includes 135 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activities.

He was also ordered to pay £2,229.35 in prosecution costs to Bolton Council Mr Mason told Rehman: “You may feel you are getting off pretty lightly but consider the effects of what you have done.”