12:08pm Tuesday 21st October 2008
A West Croydon trader who sold fake spirits and cigarette lighters has been fined £1,000 following an investigation by the trading standards service.
Jeyakanthan Thieventirampillai, owner of KK Food and Wine, in Sumner Road, West Croydon, had counterfeit bottles of Glen’s vodka and Kirov vodka and Clipper cigarette lighters seized by trading standards officers in August.
Judge Stephen Waller at Croydon Crown Court stressed that in selling counterfeit goods, Mr Thieventirampillai, 37, was defrauding trade mark holders and deceiving consumers. He said such matters are taken seriously by the courts.
Councillor Steve O’Connell, cabinet member for safety and cohesion, said: “Unscrupulous traders who try to trick local people into buying fake goods are bad news both for consumers and the many reputable companies in the borough.
“Traders have no way of knowing the true contents of these bottles or the safety of these lighters, bought from illegitimate sources, and are putting the health and safety of local consumers at serious risk. The message is clear - we will not tolerate this type of trade in Croydon and we will prosecute anyone found selling counterfeit goods in the borough.”
Jeyakanthan Thieventirampillai of Warlingham Road, Thornton Heath, pleaded guilty to two offences of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. He was £500 for each offence and ordered to pay costs of £5114.50.
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