THE actions of a Blackburn shop assistant who sold counterfeit cigarettes has cost the shop its tobacco licence.

And it was the first shop in Lancashire to face such a ban.

Tradings standards officers caught Abdul Mall, 40, selling the potentially dangerous tobacco at the Pound Plush store in the St John’s centre, Preston.

He pleaded guilty to selling the fake goods after he was found in possession of 84 packets of counterfeit cigarettes and 35 pouches of Golden Virginia rolling tobacco.

Mall, of Randal Street, Black-burn, had been selling the goods from the shop counter at less than half the retail price without the knowledge of the shop's proprietor, Muniur Bagyia.

Nick McNamara, the legal process officer for Lancashire Trading Standards prosecuted the case after a complaint.

He told Preston magistrates: “When interviewed Abdul Mall said he had been selling the cigarettes at £2.50 per pack and the tobacco at £4.50 per pouch.

“He asserted that he had been selling about 30 packs of cigarettes per week.

“All this went on despite the fact that, in December last year, a close relative of Mr Mall’s, who previously owned the business, was prosecuted for essentially the same offences committed at the same store the previous June.”

He added there were safety conc-erns with the products as genuine items are manufactured to high requirements, with strict controls on what they should contain in respect of tar and other toxins.

Mall was sentenced to 100 hours community service and fined £325.

He will also pay costs of £475 and £15 to a victims' fund.

Pound Plush is banned from selli-ng tobacco products for six months.