Shop selling illegal Peaky Blinders-branded cigarettes is closed

A Stockton shop found to be selling illicit and counterfeit cigarettes featuring pictures from the TV show Peaky Blinders has been closed down.

Toda Market on Hartington Road will now be shut for three months following evidence brought forward by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

Teesside Magistrates' Court heard on Tuesday (March 4) how test purchases carried out by the Council found cigarettes to be counterfeit and with incorrect labelling.

Some of the packets even included pictures of characters from the TV show Peaky Blinders, which is illegal.

The illicit cigarettes were also sold for £5, well below the usual market price of around £12.

Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "We appreciate that residents are concerned about the sale of illegal cigarettes in our community, which is why we continue to act on these concerns and secure the three-month closures, which is the maximum penalty. This also comes as we continue to work on 'Operation Shield' to ensure our town centres are welcoming places, where residents and visitors can enjoy spending time and businesses can flourish.

"These kind of investigations are extremely complex and our Trading Standards officers continue to work tirelessly to tackle these issues and take a zero-tolerance approach.

"Our Trading Standards team deserve a huge amount of credit and closure orders are just one way we are working to tackle organised groups like this alongside our partners. Our message is clear, if you're selling illegal cigarettes then we will seek to close you down.

"Anyone concerned about the sale of illegal cigarettes can contact our Trading Standards team by calling 01642 526560 or emailing trading.standards@stockton.gov.uk."