How did an ice-cream man use illegal tobacco to target kids?
Trading standards uncover a 'Tony's Whippy' ice-cream van
selling fake cigarettes and counterfeit DVDs to children in
Manchester.
After receiving several complaints from members of the public
about an ice-cream van selling cigarettes to children, Tameside
Trading Standards and Greater Manchester Police set up a joint
operation to catch the culprit in action.
They stopped the van while out on its rounds in
Ashton-under-Lyne. Upon searching the vehicle they found a large
quantity of illegal cigarettes - in packs of 20s and sleeves of
200s - as well as 62 counterfeit DVDs, including popular kids'
titles such as High School Musical, Robin Hood and Bambi, as well
as several pornographic titles.
The cigarettes were later found to be counterfeit, infringing a
number of registered trademarks.
The ice cream vendor admitted to not having a Street Trading
Licence to sell ice-cream, never mind other illegal products, from
his van. He was given a 12-month community sentence, ordered
to carry out 100 hours' unpaid work and ordered to pay prosecution
costs of £604.
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