An Ilkeston shop worker has been ordered by a court to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work after selling illegal cigarettes. Harem Sadah Qadir appeared before Southern Derbyshire Magistrates on Monday, June 26, to admit to one charge of selling counterfeit cigarettes and four charges of possession of counterfeit cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco with a view to gain.
The court heard that Qadir committed the offences while working at Ilkeston Mini Market in Market Place, Ilkeston. The shop was being monitored by Derbyshire County Council's trading standards officers from 2019 due to information from members of the public, with test purchases and seizure of goods previously carried out in 2020 involving Qadir.
Qadir, 24, of Norwich Place, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, received two warnings from trading standards following these previous visits to the premises and, after failing to heed warnings, the premises were raided by county council trading standards officers, accompanied by Derbyshire police, in May 2021.
