On 15th November 2023, HD Corner Limited trading as HD Corner, 2 Cross Church Street, Huddersfield appeared at Kirklees Magistrates Court to answer a case brought by West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service (WYTSS). The company was accused of having for sale counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco along with cigarettes and tobacco which were not in plain packaging or carrying the Health Warning in English. The Company also had for sale disposable electronic cigarettes which had a tank capacity in excess of the maximum allowed 2ml. Dilshad Al-Jumoor, the Director of HD Corner Limited, pleaded guilty to committing the offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994, the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 and The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. The Company was fined £1666, the Magistrates having given the company the benefit of its guilty plea. The Company was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £666 and pay costs of £1956.
Mr Al-Jumoor was sentenced separately as the responsible Director for the offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994, the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 and The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. Mr Al-Jumoor received a 150 hour Community Order and a Victim Surcharge of £114.
The business was known to WYTSS with the Service having received complaints about the premises selling cheap and illicit tobacco.
In August 2022 Officers from WYTSS Cheap and Illicit Tobacco Team visited HD Corner following complaints being received that cheap and illicit tobacco was available. 28 packs of cigarettes and 10 packs of hand rolling tobacco were seized along with 2122 disposable electronic cigarettes whose capacity of nicotine containing liquid was in excess of the permitted 2 ml. A second seizure was made in December 2022 when a further 189 packs of cigarettes and 64 packs of hand rolling tobacco were removed from sale along, with 1105 disposable electronic cigarettes.
HD Corner Limited accepted the offer to be formally interviewed and did plead guilty knowing that the cigarettes and tobacco were illegal. The business had not taken any steps to ensure the e-cigarettes on sale were legal and therefore pleaded guilty to those offences.
David Strover - West Yorkshire Trading Standards Manager said, “Far from being a victimless crime, the illegal trade in tobacco costs government millions each year in lost revenue, makes it easier for children to start smoking and it undermines fair and honest trading practices. In addition, this company continued to supply illegal oversize vapes after being advised to stop selling such items - WYTSS will take action against traders who knowingly flout legislation regarding the safety of vapes.”
Councillor Melanie Jones, Chair of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee which oversees the work of Trading Standards said, “All tobacco is harmful, but the supply of illegal tobacco seriously undermines the drive to reduce smoking, fuels organised criminality and is often a gateway for young people to becoming addicted to a habit which prematurely kills over half its users.”
Consumers wishing to report a shop selling cheap and illicit tobacco or illegal vapes please contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133.
Anyone wanting help to quit can find their local Stop Smoking Service at