HEFTY court bills have been handed out to five people after they pleaded guilty to offences relating to the possession and sale of illegal tobacco in Brierley Hill, Lye and Dudley.

Dudley trading standards brought three separate prosecutions to Dudley Magistrates Court on November 5 which it is hoped will send out a clear message to would-be offenders.

The first case saw Huner Hamad and Amanj Hasan admit five offences involving the possession of illegal cigarettes and tobacco having no health warnings or UK duty paid, many of which were counterfeit.

In total 150 packs of cigarettes and 25 packs of hand rolling tobacco were seized from Eazy Shop in Brierley Hill High Street in April 2015 by trading standards officers executing a warrant with the police and a tobacco dog and handler.

Most of the haul was found in a locked safe, which had to be broken open, and some was found in a hole in a wall.

It is the fourth time in two years the shop has been found to be dealing in illegal tobacco.

Mr Hamad, aged 45, of Mellor Street, Derby, and Mr Hasan, aged 25, of Bentley Street, Derby, told the court they had only worked at the shop for a short time and no longer work there.

Both were given 12-month conditional discharges and ordered to pay £2,304 costs each with £180 criminal court charges and a £15 victim surcharge.

The court also heard that on the same day trading standards officers inspected Baba Shaheed, in Lye High Street, and found six sleeves and 11 individual packs of cigarettes, none of which displayed the correct labelling and warnings and were also missing UK duty paid labels.

Shop owner Muhammed Fazal Ur Rehman, aged 31, of Salop Road, Redditch, pleaded guilty to three offences and was fined £426 with £1,585 costs, £180 criminal court charges and a £20 victim surcharge.

In a third case, trading standards officers executed a warrant at a property in Ivy Road, Dudley, also in April 2015, with police and a tobacco dog and handler and found 237 packs of illegal cigarettes and four packs of illegal hand rolling tobacco intended for sale which were hidden behind a cooker and behind cupboard plinths.

Ronald Anslow, aged 63, and Amanda Lewis, aged 44, both pleaded guilty to three offences involving lack of labelling and health marking of tobacco and possessing criminal property.

Both were given a two-year conditional discharge, ordered to pay £1,375 costs each along with £180 criminal court charges and a £15 victim surcharge.

In the last two years, Dudley trading standards has brought 11 prosecutions for illegal tobacco offences which have resulted in penalties including a suspended prison term and community sentences being handed out plus court bills of more than £20,000.

Councillor Rachel Harris, Dudley's cabinet member for health, said: “Selling illegal tobacco is a crime and offenders need to know they will face consequences if they choose to deal in illegal products.

“While all smoking is harmful, illegal tobacco is sold at low prices and without the necessary health warnings which makes it easier for children and young smokers to get hooked on smoking.

“Cheap cigarettes also make it harder for people to quit and remain smoke free. It also deprives legitimate businesses of revenue and robs the taxpayer of money that could be spent on schools and hospitals."

She urged anyone who suspects illegal tobacco is being sold in their area to call trading standards on 01384 818871 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.