Penallta man sentenced after he was caught selling fake tobacco and cigarettes

A Penallta man has been handed a suspended sentence after he admitted selling fake cigarettes and tobacco in pubs.

Michael Khakias, 70, of Buzzard Close, Penallta, appeared before Newport Crown Court on November 6 after he was caught selling the counterfeit goods by Trading Standards.

The court was told how in January this year, in the Foresters pub in Blackwood, Khakias sold a council officer a packet of 20 Winston cigarettes for £4 and 50g pouch if Golden Virginia tobacco for £7.50. The tobacco was later found to be counterfeit and the cigarettes were ‘illegal whites’ that did not comply with labelling rules.

Later that month, Khakias was stopped again by council and police officers inside the Wetherspoons pub in Blackwood, where £970 cash was found in a wallet with a further £45 in his trouser pocket.

Khakias was also in possession of nine 50g pouches of Golden Virginia tobacco, five 50g pouches of Amber Leaf tobacco, eleven packets of 20 Winston cigarettes and a Sagem mobile phone.

Upon inspecting Khakias’ vehicle, £3,356 cash, fourteen packages of 200 Winston cigarettes, three packages of 200 Mayfair cigarettes, eighteen pouches of 50g Golden Virginia tobacco and seven pouches of 50g Amber Leaf tobacco were also found. The tobacco was counterfeit and all were incorrectly labelled.

Khakias admitted a total of eight charges – four under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and four under the Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale) (Safety) Regulations 2002.

He was given an 11-week jail sentence suspended for nine months.

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Protection, said: “While some people may not see the sale of cheap, illegal tobacco as a significant problem in our communities, it can have a huge negative impact on residents of all ages.

“Our Trading Standards officers work tirelessly to detect, investigate and bring to task offenders of such illegal activity and are often reliant on residents, who see such activity going on within their communities to report issues of this nature to them.”

Khakias is also subject to confiscation proceedings brought by Caerphilly County Borough Council under the Proceeds of Crime Act.