A shop owner has been jailed for selling illegal tobacco.

Around £6,000 worth of illegal tobacco and cigarettes was discovered at Little Shop in Bohemia Road, St Leonards, following two inspections and a test purchase by East Sussex Trading Standards.

Shopkeeper Arras Omar Ahmed, of Devonshire Place, Hastings, failed to appear at Hastings Magistrates Court on March 22, 2022, to face the three charges against him.

Ahmed, 38, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison on October 17 after three more failed hearing attendances. The sentence was then reduced to 16 weeks following an appeal hearing on November 8.

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He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and full prosecution costs of £2,887.50.

An order has been made for the destruction of the cigarettes and seizing of the tobacco.

Councillor Penny di Cara, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for economy, said: “The supply of illegal tobacco is something we take extremely seriously, and this case shows that we will do everything in our power and persevere to ensure those putting residents at risk are brought to justice.

“Mr Ahmed’s failure to appear in court to answer Trading Standards’ charges a total of four times only led to an even harsher sentence.

“The sale of illegal tobacco, which is not subject to the usual stringent checks and safeguards, puts people’s health further in jeopardy, risks encouraging more young people to smoke and places money into the pockets of criminal gangs.”