London,
07
December
2008
|
23:00
Europe/London

Counterfeit condoms prosecution

Debra Keshinro, owner of Lucky Newsagents on Chatsworth Road. London E5 OLP was prosecuted at Thames Magistrates Court, on 3 December 2008 for offering to sell counterfeit Durex condoms in her shop. Miss Keshinro pleaded guilty to offences under the Trade Marks Act and was fined £100 plus £265 costs.

Last October, Hackney Council and Durex warned people in Hackney and neighbouring boroughs to check packs of Durex before they used them, following a series of seizures of counterfeit condoms by the Council’s Trading Standards team. A quantity of fake Durex condoms were seized from the Lucky Newsagents on 31 October 2007.

A complaint from a member of public alerted Trading Standards to the fact that the counterfeits were being sold and full investigation was launched. Subsequently Trading Standards officers in several other London Boroughs discovered that the fakes were being sold in their local shops as well.

Fiona Fletcher Smith, Corporate Director at Hackney Council said: “Selling counterfeits like these condoms is extremely irresponsible. The boxes were good copies and as they were sold at the regular price, consumers were unaware there was anything wrong with them. Swift action by Trading Standards led to thousands of them being removes from local shops.”

If you are offered goods of any type which you think may be counterfeit or stolen call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or contact Hackney’s Trading Standards team on 020 8356 4929.