DEYAN GEORGIEV / SHUTTERSTOCK News Lettings agent prosecuted for false advertising PRODUCT FAILS FLAMMABILITY TESTS Hull Trading Standards has successfully prosecuted a West Yorkshire furniture manufacturer for supplying unsafe upholstered headboards to a West Hull company. At Hull Magistrates Court in April, Deepsleep Beds UK pleaded guilty to a breach of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 by supplying a West Hull retailer with a headboard that failed fire-safety tests. The company was fined 2,000 and ordered to pay 3,100 costs. Trading standards officers had taken samples of headboards from shops across the city as part of a survey to check the safety of products. The headboards were submitted to an accredited test house, which found the fabric covering on all of the headboards failed the flammability tests. Further visits were made to the retailers and any remaining unsafe stock seized. Deepsleep UK, of Batley, West Yorkshire, had manufactured the products for more than three years and did not have a satisfactory product-testing regime in place. Westminster Trading Standards successfully prosecuted lettings agent Ziad Nassif in April, at Westminster Magistrates Court. The court heard that the agent ran two companies London Room Let and Landlord Direct Investments which displayed the logos of six trade associations on their websites, indicating membership when they were not members. Westminster Trading Standards acted after receiving a complaint from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), which said London Room Let had displayed the NAEA logo on its website and, despite repeated requests for it to be removed, the company had failed to do so. It was noted that the logos of the National Approved Letting Scheme, SAFEagent and the Ombudsman Service were also present. In addition, one site claimed to have won a 2013 national lettings agency competition, which the company had not even entered. Landlord Direct Investments displayed the logos of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the British Standards Institute and The Property Ombudsman on its website. London Room Let, Landlord Direct Investments and Nassif, their sole director, pleaded guilty to the offences of misleading consumers and businesses. In view of the defendants guilty plea, the director registering himself as bankrupt within two days of the summons being issued and the fact that he would be prevented from being a director in future, the judge issued the following nes: G London Room Let two 20 nes and a 20 victim surcharge G Landlord Direct Investments 20 ne and 20 victim surcharge G 700 Ziad Nassif, as director of London Room Let G 500 Ziad Nassif, as director of Landlord Direct Investments G 120 victim surcharge G Court costs of 500 The judge said an aggravated feature of this case was the number of logos used, which viewers would recognise and would believe that their money was safe with this person. Sue Jones, head of Westminster Trading Standards said: It is quite conceivable that in a very competitive market the false assurances made by the defendants by displaying these logos would mislead customers into thinking they were getting protection when they were not. AUREMAR / SHUTTERSTOCK COUNTERFEITER SENTENCED FOR SELLING DANGEROUS GOODS Unsafe motorcycle helmets, which could have resulted in riders suffering an accident impact six times more forceful than permitted under legislation, have been seized by Peterborough Trading Standards. Investigating officers found more than 20,000 counterfeit items, with an estimated value of more than 180,000, at Bargain World UK, after a complaint that the business was selling suspected counterfeit car parts. Many of the seized items were unsafe motorcycle helmets. The goods were being sold online through a number of retailers and on the companys own website. The motorcycle helmets impounded by trading standards failed after being subjected to two of five safety tests. Purchasers of the dangerous helmets were subsequently identified and contacted to make sure they were aware of the teams findings. Moortaza Walji, of Bargain World UK, pleaded guilty to 15 charges relating to the unauthorised use of trademarks and sale of unsafe motorcycle helmets in February. Sentenced in Peterborough Crown Court in May, Walji was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to undertake 180 hours community service and to pay costs of 13,000. A forfeiture and destruction order was made in respect of all the counterfeit items. A substantial Proceeds of Crime Act award of 182,000 has been made and will be repaid by the business as a result of the criminal activity. This award is in addition to the sentences and costs passed down by the court. Donna Hall, public protection manager at the city council, said: This investigation is another great example of teams at the council working in partnership with the local community. We continue to work with the public, traders and enforcement partners to ensure we stamp out illegal business practices in Peterborough. PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES WARNINGS ISSUED TO TRADERS Officers from Staffordshire Trading Standards, Staffordshire Police and Newcastle Borough Council Partnership recently visited two premises in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre that were selling new psychoactive substances (NPS) and drugs paraphernalia. Advice and warnings were issued to both premises, and 150 products were voluntary surrendered. The successful operation has been welcomed by partnership agencies and businesses in the town centre. It is hoped this approach will help to tackle anti-social behaviour attributed to the premises, and improve the area for consumers and businesses. A further six premises across Staffordshire have been sent a letter to warn and advise them about the sale of NPS products. Details of the advice sent to traders can be seen here