Trader is fined for selling fake wine

A WORKSOP trader has been fined £500 after she was found selling poor quality counterfeit wine in her shop.

Herkamel Kaur, 30, owner of Dhaddas Convenience Store in Low Street, admitted Trade Mark and Food Safety offences at Worksop Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

She was fined £500 and ordered to pay £930 in costs.

Notts County Council Trading Standards Officers seized 36 bottles of counterfeit wine, labelled as Jacob’s Creek, during an inspection in September last year.

The checks were part of the council’s on-going crackdown against counterfeit alcohol.

Eagle-eyed officers spotted a spelling error in the small print on the back of the bottle which described it as ‘Wine of Austrlia’ instead of ‘Wine of Australia’.

Other labelling on the bottles appeared to be a convincing copy.

Officers described the counterfeit wine as being ‘of very low quality and substandard taste’ but laboratory tests showed that it presented no health risk to the public if consumed.

Ms Kaur said she had bought the wine from a wholesaler in London but could not provide specific details when questioned.

Coun Mick Murphy, cabinet member for community safety said: “Counterfeiters are not only potentially putting people’s health at risk, they are cheating the public, reputable businesses and the public purse.”

“Fortunately this batch of counterfeit alcohol did not present any health risks, but the retailer and her customers weren’t to know that.”

“Counterfeit alcohol remains a growing problem across the country and one we have had a great deal of success in clamping down on in Nottinghamshire.”

“Information provided to Trading Standards by members of the public has helped the County Council take numerous bottles of potentially harmful alcohol off the shelves in the last few months.”

If you are concerned that you may have bought or been offered counterfeit alcohol, report it to Trading Standards through Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

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