A Proceeds of Crime application has been heard at Grimsby Crown Court with a total of £295,021.84 awarded against a Grimsby man, following what was the largest-ever haul of illegal cigarettes seized in North East Lincolnshire. This is the first time a Proceeds of Crime Application has been brought before the courts for North East Lincolnshire Council since the act was put in place back in 2003. North East Lincolnshire Council, with the support of Humberside Police, had executed a search warrant at the property in Exmoor Close, Healing, on 21 November 2021. This had followed reports from the public that illegal tobacco was being stored at the premises. Officers found 386,760 illegal cigarettes and 290 pouches of illegal tobacco, worth in excess of £227,000. As a result, a man and a woman pleaded guilty and were sentenced at a further hearing. Nabaz Rasul Mohammed, 29, a shopkeeper of Freeman Street, Grimsby, entered guilty pleas to 12 offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994, and a further four offences relating to the packaging of all the products seized. He was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in custody, suspended for two years and to attend 20 days of Rehabilitation Activity. Meanwhile Angela Ammari, 51, of Exmoor Close, Healing, had pleaded guilty to 11 offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994 relating to 292,000 cigarettes and 50 x 50g pouches of tobacco which were found to be counterfeit copies of genuine brands, at an earlier hearing in October 2022. Ammari was sentenced to four months in custody suspended for 12 months and must also attend 20 days of Rehabilitation Activity. As a result of those court hearings, the Proceeds of Crime application was heard, and the award was made against Mr. Mohammed. However Ms. Ammari was only ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,575 within three months. Mr. Mohammed was ordered to pay £2,480.38 as a result of the Proceeds of Crime application within four to six weeks. Failure to comply with the order will result in imprisonment. In addition, total benefit costs were awarded against Mohammed of £293,446.84. This means any assets that are obtained by him (for example purchases made by him, inheritance, or such things as Lottery wins) would be applicable for seizure as part of the Proceeds of Crime Act. The money will be split three ways with approximately one third going to His Majesty’s Treasury; one third to the agency responsible for the collection of the monies (often the courts) and one third to the Local Authority bringing the claim and the financial investigation team. The Proceeds of Crime Act allows the authority to recover assets that an offender may have gained through illegal activity. It can be seen as a deterrent to certain ‘lifestyle’ offences, but also can be used to deprive an offender of any financial gain they may have made from the offences they have committed. It is commonly used for offences such as drug trafficking and money laundering but can also be used for counterfeiting and offences under the Trade Mark Act, such as the ones committed here. Councillor Ron Shepherd, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: “This is a significant ruling for North East Lincolnshire Council and the partners who have worked hard together for this outcome. “I would like to thank everyone involved for bringing the case to this point and hopefully in the years ahead we will see more results like this. “It’s a shining example of how we as a Council will not shy away from prosecuting people who don’t follow the law. “The authority is committed to cracking down on this kind of criminal behaviour and this hearing illustrates that we will endeavour to bring people to justice. “It is this councils intention to pursue those who continue to sell counterfeit products through the proceeds of crime act. We are sending a very clear message that we will continue to act financially against those that break the law.”   Image courtesy of North East Lincolnshire Council

Gelder Group Chief Executive Officer Steve Gelder has used a silver spade to break the ground in a symbolic gesture, signalling the start of work on a £9m Savoy cinema in Gainsborough.

He said: “Having been born and brought up in Gainsborough, I am absolutely delighted that we have been awarded the contract to build the exciting new cinema.”

West Lindsey District Council and Savoy Cinema announced that local construction company the Gelder Group have secured the contract to build the state-of-the-art complex in the Market Place.

The development will deliver a four-screen cinema complex, restaurant, retail units and car parking provision in Gainsborough Town Centre. It is funded through contributions from the Council, the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the government’s Levelling Up Fund and Savoy Cinemas.

“I am passionate about seeing the town develop and grow in prominence in the years ahead. I am confident that the new cinema will provide an important focus point in the Market Place and have the power to bring many more visitors into the town.”

Savoy Cinemas MD James Collington said: “Today marks a significant milestone in developing our new state-of-the-art cinema, bringing us a step closer to unveiling the Savoy Experience in Gainsborough. We are looking forward to delivering excellent films, entertainment, and cutting-edge cinematic technology in the town centre for the local community and surrounding areas to enjoy.”

Leader of West Lindsey District Council Trevor Young and Gainsborough ward member said: “Today we are not only breaking ground on the physical construction of the site, but together with Savoy Cinemas, we are looking forward to working with Steve Gelder and his team, an award-winning construction company based right here in West Lindsey.

“The cinema is the anchor project in our Thriving Gainsborough 2024 regeneration programme and it demonstrates our continued commitment to deliver for the people of Gainsborough and surrounding area. This will bring a much-needed leisure offer to the town centre and significantly contribute to the town’s local economy, increasing footfall, dwell time and spend.”

The owner of a delicatessen and bistro has been ordered to pay more than £32,000 for failing to comply with food hygiene regulations. Twenty food safety and hygiene-related charges were issued after Environmental Health inspectors from South Kesteven District Council visited Oblio’s Deli & Bistro in Westgate, Grantham. Steven Thorsen, 72, admitted all charges at Boston Magistrates’ Court. During the hearing, magistrates saw photo evidence of the inadequate conditions and were told about unsafe food practices. Across separate inspections in 2022 and 2023, inspectors found whipped and single cream, pastry, cheese and raw meat that were past the use-by date, contravening the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013. Fridges in the premises were running at unsafe temperatures above 8°C to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and toxins. Expired cheese stored in the fridges had also grown mould. The prosecution highlighted a continued build-up of grease on walls and surfaces due to unsuitable and insufficient ventilation, inadequate provision of hand-washing facilities and the poor condition of floor surfaces. The court heard how the business was served two improvement notices in October 2022 but failed to resolve them in the time given. Sally Burke, prosecuting on behalf of SKDC, explained the responsibilities of food business operators and how cleaning and ventilation, regular date code checks and temperature control checks fall within this. She explained that despite guidance and support provided by the Council’s environmental health team, the defendant was unable to improve the conditions of the premises and practice safe food handling and storage. The court heard how Mr Thorsen had re-packaged cheese using vacuum packaging, without indicating the contents or the date in which the cheese would no longer be safe to use. The court also heard how the defendant had struggled with his health and had been let down by tradespeople he had contracted to carry out the improvement work, which has now been completed. Mr Thorsen was ordered to pay a fine, costs and surcharges totalling £32,312.72. He was fined £25,000 and must also pay the Council’s costs of £5,312.72 with a victim surcharge of £2,000. Cllr Rhea Rayside, SKDC Cabinet Member for People and Communities, said: “I hope this will send a strong message to all that the safety of our residents and visitors is a key priority. “I would like to highlight the work of the team for their diligence in achieving this successful prosecution, having provided a significant amount of support to the business for a number of years. “It is important that the Council takes court action in cases such as this, where the support offered by inspectors hasn’t been taken on board to ensure that food law is followed and that consumers are kept safe.”   Image courtesy of South Kesteven District Council