Petrol Station Owners Fined After Trading Standards Operation
Two petrol station bosses face hefty fines for selling illegal e-cigarettes
Tameside, UK, E-Cigarettes, Fines, Trading Standards
Tameside: So, here’s the scoop. The owner and manager of a petrol station just got hit with an £11,000 fine. They admitted to selling illegal e-cigarettes. Not a good look, right?
This all went down at the Texaco service station on Caroline Street in Stalybridge. Trading standards officers from Tameside council paid a visit back in June 2023. They found some dodgy disposable e-cigarettes and even made a test purchase.
Usman Patel, the owner, and Khalid Muhammed, the manager, faced three charges. The magistrates didn’t hold back. Mr. Patel got slapped with a £4,000 fine, plus a £1,600 victim surcharge and £715 in costs. Ouch!
Mr. Muhammed wasn’t let off easy either. He received a £3,200 fine, a £1,260 victim surcharge, and the same £715 in costs. That’s a hefty bill for both of them.
Councillor Laura Boyle, who’s in charge of environmental services, made it clear that trading in illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes is a big problem. It supports crime, hurts legit businesses, and puts young people at risk.
She said this court result sends a strong message: Tameside won’t tolerate illegal trading. They’re all about keeping the community safe and supporting businesses that play by the rules.