A SHOPKEEPER who attempted to sell counterfeit cigarettes at half the price of the genuine thing has been ordered to complete unpaid work.

Burnley magistrates heard how trading standards carried out a routine inspection at Pam's Pantry, Burnley Road, Brierfield, on March 9, last year.

Prosecuting, Nick McNamara said inside the premises officers found Munawar Hussain, 51, who is the sole director of the business.

Mr McNamara said: "Immediately obvious were packs of tobacco blunts (wraps), cigars and a cigarette-making kit behind the counter, all of which could clearly be seen by anybody standing at the other side. All these being products containing tobacco, they fall foul of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002, which prohibits their display.

"During the course of the inspection officers came upon the 38 packs of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco, all of which were concealed behind packets of food. All of the tobacco packs fell foul of requirements to display compliant health warnings, either because they were smuggled imports or else because they bore warnings that were long since out of date.

"Of those 38 packs, half were counterfeit copies of Mayfair branded cigarettes, which is a registered trade mark."

Hussain, of Lindsay Street, Burnley, was subsequently interviewed and told officers that the store belonged to New Pam's Pantry Ltd, which he had been operating for around 12 months and of which he was the sole director. He said he had been running the store itself for nearly a decade and admitted to hiding the packs in an effort to prevent trading standards from finding them.

Mr McNamara said: "He said that he knew some of the packs were counterfeit and that he had been selling cigarettes for about £3.50 per pack and tobacco for £12 per pouch, which is roughly half the price of their genuine tax-paid counterparts. As to the cigars and blunts on open display, he said that he was unaware that the prohibition applied to such products."

The court heard when trading standards visited the store on August 11 officers found even more packs of improperly labelled cigarettes, tobacco, shisha, e-cigarettes and refills behind the counter and in the tobacco gantry. In all, 77 different products were seized.

Hussain subsequently responded to written questions under caution when he asserted that none of the products were intended for sale but were there 'awaiting exchange from the cigarette companies'.

Hussain and New Pam's Pantry Ltd both pleaded guilty to three offences under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, one under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and one under the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act.

Representing himself, Hussain told the court that his motivation was purely financial, that he supports a wife and three young children and that he works every day between 12 noon and 11pm.

Hussain was given a 12-month community order and told to complete 120 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £400 costs and an £85 surcharge to support victims services.

New Pam's Pantry Ltd was fined £2,400 and told to pay £475 costs and a £48 surcharge to support victims services.