GRADUATE FOUND WITH £12K FAKE CIGARETTES
27-year-old ‘turned to crime’ as he couldn’t find work
BUSINESS management graduate Bryar Ahmad was caught with more than £12,000 worth of fake cigarettes that were due to be sold illegally.
Magistrates heard that the 27-year-old was finding it hard to get work, despite his 2:1 honours degree, so turned to crime to make some money.
North Staffordshire Justice Centre was told he would buy counterfeit goods and then distribute them to ‘family, friends and associates’.
A document linked to a Stokeon-trent-based retail store was also found when police raided his home in Spoutfield Road, Cliffe Vale.
Now Ahmad has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.
He admitted six offences relating to the possession of fake cigarettes, supply of tobacco products not carrying health warnings or correct packaging, and the use or possession of criminal property.
Ashleigh Pennill, prosecuting on behalf of Stoke-on-trent City Council, said Cheshire Police stopped Ahmad on the M6 on May 8, 2019 as a result of intelligence.
He ‘nervously’ produced some cash and then the officers carried out a further search, finding £2,082.50 altogether.
Police went on to raid his home that same day and came across 1,240 packets of illegal Rothmans and Mayfair cigarettes.
Mrs Pennill told the court: “They had a retail value of £12,710 and a street value of £4,950. The duty evaded on them was £7,291.20.
“It is the prosecution’s case that the defendant had them under his control and was storing them for distribution to supply to retail clients.”
Following his arrest, Ahmad was interviewed and claimed the products were for his own personal use. But he later admitted he was knowingly selling fake cigarettes.
Ahmad had been intending to use the substantial amount of cash to buy more illegal goods.
Tac Hussain, mitigating, said he had no previous convictions and had only turned to the counterfeit trade after getting into financial difficulties.
“He was unable to find any sort of work. At the time, he was trying to keep afloat,” he added.
“He wasn’t making a large amount of money. It was just enough to get by. He hasn’t led a fancy lifestyle as a result. He hasn’t had a fancy car or gone on a lavish holiday. It was not a leading role and it was under direction.
“He now works part-time in a takeaway in Meir and is looking for full-time employment, but has not had any success.
“He does a lot of work in the community and a lot of charitable work.”
Magistrates said he had made ‘some very poor choices’. But they were persuaded there was a real prospect of rehabilitation after reading character references submitted on his behalf.
As part of his sentence, he will have to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and pay £685 court costs and a £140 victim surcharge.