Repeat tobacco offenders sentenced following trading standards investigation
Two men have been sentenced after pleading guilty to a series of offences involving illicit tobacco, illegal disposable vapes and the sale of a nicotine vape to a child following an investigation by Shropshire Council’s trading standards service.
At Telford Magistrates Court on 21 September 2026, Karwan Sedeeq Hama – former director of Bridgnorth Market Ltd – and employee Saywan Hama Rashidi both pleaded guilty to all offences before the court.
Karwan Sedeeq Hama was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, 100 hours of unpaid work, a Victim Surcharge of £114 and £1,803 in prosecution costs.
Sawan Rashidi was sentenced to A 12-month Community Order, 100 hours of unpaid work, a Victim Surcharge of £114, and £500 in prosecution costs.
The investigation concerned a shop trading as ‘Bridgnorth Market’ situated in Listley Street, Bridgnorth, which first came to the attention of trading standards in March 2025 when officers seized illicit tobacco, oversized vapes and non-compliant vape liquids. The business was provided with detailed written advice and guidance about its legal responsibilities, including age-restricted sales, tobacco packaging requirements and the forthcoming ban on disposable vapes.
Despite this intervention, subsequent inspections revealed continued offending.
On 12 June 2025, trading standards officers seized large quantities of illicit tobacco, including counterfeit Richmond cigarettes, foreign-labelled cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco. Most of the products had been concealed beneath a greeting card display in a hidden drawer.
Just two weeks later, on 26 June 2025, a 17-year-old volunteer working with trading standards was able to purchase a nicotine vape from the premises without being challenged as to their age.
A further inspection on 14 August 2025 uncovered more illicit tobacco alongside banned disposable vapes. Officers found the products hidden in a safe and in a concealed compartment beneath shelving within the shop.
When trading standards returned again on 26 September 2025, a test purchaser successfully bought a packet of illicit Marlboro cigarettes for £6.50. During the subsequent inspection, officers discovered newly constructed hidden compartments within shelving units. These compartments, accessed using a concealed magnet mechanism and requiring dismantling of fittings, contained further quantities of illicit cigarettes.
The court was informed of the repeated nature of the offending and the deliberate concealment of products in hidden compartments designed to evade detection.
Roger Evans, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for finance, said:
“This was not a one-off mistake. Despite repeated visits, seizures and advice from trading standards, the business continued to sell illegal products and concealed illicit tobacco in sophisticated hidden compartments designed to evade detection.
“Counterfeit tobacco and banned disposable vapes pose risks to consumers, undermine legitimate businesses and deprive public services of vital revenue. The sale of nicotine vaping products to children is particularly concerning, and we take breaches of age-restricted sales laws very seriously.
“Trading standards worked closely with the landlord after repeated offences were identified, and the business subsequently ceased trading from the premises. We are grateful to officers from the Bridgnorth Safer Neighbourhood Team at West Mercia Police, whose support during inspections was invaluable to the success of the investigation.
“We welcome the guilty pleas and the sentences imposed by the court, which send a clear message that businesses that continue to flout the law can expect robust enforcement action.”
