A Gloucester man has been handed a 12-week suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to illegal tobacco charges.

Karwan Khorsheed was behind the counter at the Divan Mini Market in Barton Street on December 19, 2017 when Trading Standards Officers carried out an inspection.

He had car keys to a black Vauxhall Astra and a large amount of cash on his person, while a search of the car revealed a black bin liner stashed behind the passenger seat.

In it were 60 packs of 20 cigarettes and 37 pouches of 50g hand rolling tobacco. Also in the car was a mobile phone charger with a white mobile phone lead attached to it.

Officers interview Mr Khorsheed who said he was in the shop to visit his friend and charge his mobile phone. He also claimed the cash haul was from winnings at a casino in the previous week.

He claimed he had bought the illegal tobacco for a friend and was going to pass it on once he got home.

Officers seized the illegal tobacco as well as £1,220 of cash under the Proceeds of Crime act, before finding another quantity of illegal tobacco in the shop.

Mr Khorsheed appeared in Cheltenham Magistrates Court on March 25 and pleased guilty to three charges.

Two for the counterfeit goods that were seized for 20 packs of Mayfair cigarettes and five pouches of Amber Leaf tobacco. The third charge was for incorrectly labelled tobacco products.

It is the second time that Mr Khorsheed has pleaded guilty to offences relating to illegal tobacco.

In August 2015 he received a community order to do 250 hours of unpaid work for possessing illegal tobacco at the One Way Shop in Coleford.

In his defence, Mr Khorsheed's legal representative told Magistrates that the tobacco in his car was not for the shop or customers.

He had bought it for a friend who did not have a car. He is aware that the problem in Gloucestershire is widespread and that he is part of the problem.

Magistrates sentenced Mr Khorsheed to 12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 24 months, as well as 250 hours of unpaid work and a £1,000 fine.

He has to pay prosecution costs of £1,106.45 and a victim surcharge of £115. He also agreed to Proceeds of Crime proceedings which saw him deprived of the £1,220 seized in December 2017.

Cllr Dave Norman, Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for trading standards, said, "Illegal tobacco products have serious health risks so I'm pleased that once again our trading standards officers have successfully taken illegal tobacco out of circulation.

"This case acts as a clear deterrent to other sellers of illegal tobacco in the county."

Contact Trading Standards on 03454 040506, email tradingstandards@gloucestershire.gov.uk or anonymously via their www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/trading-standards