London,
08
September
2008
|
23:00
Europe/London

Dodgy mobile phone chargers alert

Dalston trader, Janet Botchey, owner of Wonder of Ridley Road pleaded guilty to selling unsafe mobile phone chargers at Thames Magistrates Court on 3 September 2008.

Ms Botchey was given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £1963 in costs to Hackney Council.

Hackney Trading Standards officers purchased the mobile phone chargers in February of this year. When they were tested by an electrical expert, the results were shocking. The X-plus chargers were found to be in danger of overheating and posed a risk of electric shock to the user.

Councillor Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “Our officers discovered that these chargers could pose a very serious risk to the consumers during a proactive test purchasing project. Anyone who has concerns about the safety of an electrical item should stop using it immediately and inform trading standards.”

Ms Botchey who could not say where she had obtained the chargers from, was prosecuted under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

If you suspect that a trader is selling goods that are unsafe, contact Hackney Trading Standards on 020 8356 4929.