Lincoln shopkeeper banned from selling alcohol after pleading guilty to dealing in illicit booze and tobacco

An owner of two Lincoln convenience stores has been banned from selling alcohol anywhere in the UK.

Khalid Jasim, 28, was found guilty of six offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 for dealing in illicit tobacco and alcohol.

He was ordered to pay fines and costs of more than £1,000 and was stripped of his personal licence to sell alcohol, following the prosecution by Lincolnshire Trading Standards.

It follows the seizure of 2,294 counterfeit cigarettes and 9.15kg of smuggled hand-rolling tobacco from Jasim's International Foods stores in Portland Street and High Street.

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The goods were discovered in a raid carried out by Lincolnshire Trading Standards, HMRC and Lincolnshire Police in August 2011.

Jasim pleaded guilty to all offences at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Monday, citing ignorance and inexperience as his defence.

But Paul Dolby, senior trading standards officer, said: "Lack of knowledge and experience is not an excuse for breaking the law.

"Retailers have a duty to understand how the law applies to them - and how they should follow it to ensure the safety of their customers.

"We're here to help shop owners follow their obligations. But where they don't, our crackdown will continue to protect consumers from them.

"Our investigations can reveal fake booze and fags that have the potential to harm or even kill. That's why our work is so vital and we will never hesitate to take action against these criminals."