Last week we found a hidden motorised lift being used to hide illegal tobacco which had been built into the solid floor of a local Coventry shop. Officers found and seized £1700 worth of illegal cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco before disabling the storage lift. Investigations are on-going.

This shows the lengths that criminals will go to in order to hide illegal tobacco and with illegal cigarettes being sold much cheaper than legal ones it makes it harder for people to quit and remain smoke free. The supply of illegal cigarettes also robs the taxpayer of money that could be spent on local schools and hospitals and often, illegal cigarettes do not self-extinguish which can cause house fires.

In 2014 /15 Coventry Trading Standards seized 21,500 illegal packs of tobacco with a street value of around £80,000. This resulted in sixteen successful prosecutions with sentences varying from a six months prison sentence issued in the Crown Court, to fines of up to £1,500 plus costs.

The latest case which went before Nuneaton Magistrates Court involved Mr Diyar Kadar, 31- trading as 4 Ways Fine Foods, Walsgrave Road, Coventry - who pleaded guilty on 16 June 2015 to the possession for supply of illegal cigarettes which were hidden on the premise.

He was fined £250 and ordered to pay £660 costs together with a £25 victim surcharge.

The supply chain for illegal tobacco has strong links with other crimes and criminal gangs. Local people can do something to keep illegal tobacco out of their area by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. It might stop your child or someone else’s getting hooked on smoking. 

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We continue to receive reports from residents of rogue traders calling on them or approaching them whilst in their gardens offering to carry out various kinds of work from jet washing driveways, gardening, fencing type work plus roofing jobs.

The latest case involved a Stoke resident who was persuaded to pay a deposit to have their patio re-paved together with having a new fence installed. The Rogue Trader was very friendly and polite and even followed the resident to the cash point where the deposit was handed over.

Unfortunately despite numerous phone calls, excuses and promises this was the last the resident saw of the trader.

The address given by the trader is not local to Coventry and enquiries show that the trader is not based there. The only contact number is a mobile phone which is no longer answered when the resident calls.

In another case, following a ‘knock on the door’ an elderly Radford resident agreed to have a wall rebuilt and paid some money ‘for materials’. The 3 men immediately demolished the wall and then asked for more money.

The resident went to his local Building Society who were concerned and asked who was carrying out the work and had they given the resident his 14 days cancellation notice. Staff called a relative who was still at the property who asked the trader for some details but they were extremely vague about who they were.

Staff at the Building Society then rang us and we met the resident at his property but clearly the call by the Building Society had spooked the men as neighbours reported seeing them running off down a back alley. They too have not returned.

In this case, we have no real clues as to who these men were who left no paperwork or contact details whatsoever.

We have also received a report from a concerned neighbour in the Cheylesmore area following work carried out at an elderly person’s property which involved ‘pruning’ a tree. 

Rogue traders may see the improving weather conditions as an opportunity but our advice as always is to never to agree to work that is instigated as a result of a knock on the door or via a leaflet drop. If you do need work on your property or garden, use a reputable local trader recommended by friends or family or someone who has been vetted and is part of the Age UK (Coventry) Trusted Traders Scheme.

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Kiddu are recalling the above car seat sold from June 2012 until May 2015 due to a potential safety issue when used in a Group 1 format i.e. with the buckle and harness.

The identified problem is connected to the Kiddu Lane Group 1/ 2/ 3 car seat with DS07 or YS07 markings on the stitched label on the side cover of the booster part of seat or imprinted markings on the underside of the booster seat.

The potential safety issue is that in rare cases due to a potential manufacturing defect, the buckle may open in the event of an impact.

Although the number of cases reported are very low Kiddu recommend that you immediately stop using the product as a Group 1 car seat (i.e.: with the buckle and harness) and contact them on 0161 702 5061 for further advice.

If you are using this product as a High Back Booster (Group 2) or Booster (Group 3) which uses the car seat belt rather than the harness, this recall does not affect this part of the product. Should you have any concerns about using this product as a Booster please contact the Kiddu Helpline on 0161 702 5061 where a dedicated member of the team will be able to advise you.

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Direct Wines Ltd, trading as Laithwaite’s and The Sunday Times Wine Club is recalling bottles of its ‘Andrew McPherson’s The Full Fifteen Sparkling Red’ wine because of the shattering of some bottles.

Bottle size: 750ml - Lot: L215070 - Product code: 50839.

No other batch or product is known to be affected.

If you have an unopened bottle, do not attempt to transport or return it but dispose of the product immediately. Details on how to do this safely and arrange a refund can be found of the Food Standards Agency website.

The company can be contacted on: 03330 148198.

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The Wine Society is recalling bottles of its ‘Prosecco Brut i Duecento’ wine because of reports of some bottles shattering.

Bottle size: 75cl - Lot numbers: L5124, L5113BV3TI, L5012, L4296, L4266, L4147.

If you have an unopened bottle, details on how to handle an unopened bottle safely and arrange a refund can be found on the Food Standards Agency website.

The company can be contacted on: Tel: 01438 741177 or Email: memberservices@thewinesociety.com.

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