Published Tuesday 23 May 2023 at 18:25
A Blackburn shop owner who was found guilty of nine offences relating to the sale of illicit tobacco has been ordered to pay £85,000.
Alan Ahmad pleaded guilty to the offences in February 2022 when illicit tobacco worth £81,000 and alcohol were seized back in 2018 from premises in Bank Top.
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on each of seven counts, to run concurrently, and four months imprisonment for two other related offences, again to run concurrently.
At a proceeds of crime hearing last week, Ahmad’s custodial sentence was suspended for a period of 18 months, with a requirement to perform 150 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity.
The proceeds of crime application was made by Blackburn with Darwen Council at the time and that was resolved at Preston Crown Court on 17th May 23.
Ahmad was ordered to pay £50,000 as proceeds of crime and to pay £35,000 towards Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s costs.
If the £50,000 proceeds of crime payment is not made within three months, Ahmad risks being imprisoned for 12 months.
The illicit tobacco worth £81,000 and alcohol that was seized during the original raid in 2018 were also surrendered to The Council for destruction.
Jim Smith, Executive Member for Environment, said:
This is an excellent result, and sends out a clear message that we’re prepared to pursue offenders to the extreme lengths of the law to protect our residents. A suspended prison sentence and £85,000 financial penalty will hopefully act as a deterrent to people thinking of selling illicit tobacco in the borough.
Filed under : environment | Executive Member for Environment | Jim Smith