A SHOP worker taken to court for selling counterfeit tobacco at her store has been ordered to pay more than £1,700 in fines and costs.

Amanda Woodward, 49, admitted having 40 fake Golden Virginia and Amber Leaf pouches and 58 counterfeit packs of Imperial Tobacco Superkings at Keepers Feeds in Abergavenny Road, Blaenavon.

Woodward, of Capel Newydd Avenue, Blaenavon, also pleaded guilty to having two counterfeit Jimmy Choo and Mulberry purses at the shop and two charges of displaying the tobacco without warnings contrary to the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

Torfaen council said today the seizures were made as part of a two-day operation with HM Revenue and Customs.

A council spokesman said thousands of illegal cigarettes and pouches of hand-rolling tobacco had been confiscated.

Torfaen Cabinet member for public protection, Labour Cllr Gwyneira Clark, said: “The sentence is a clear indication how seriously these offences are viewed by the court.

"The sale of counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime and genuine retailers in Torfaen will continue to be protected from unfair competition posed by individuals involved in these activities."

The counterfeit goods were seized at the shop on September 8 last year and are to be destroyed.

She pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing goods with a false trade mark for sale or hire and was fined £200 for each charge.

She also pleaded guilty to two counts of exposing for supply goods prohibited by safety regulations and was fined £100 for each charge.

Woodward was also ordered to pay £539 costs and a £15 surcharge.

The council spokesman said: “Some of the packets of cigarettes and pouches of tobacco were subsequently examined by the respective tobacco companies and identified as being counterfeit.

“The health warnings on the packs were not in English and do not have pictorial warnings, which is a legal requirement to sell in the UK."

The Argus contacted Woodward at the shop yesterday but she declined to comment.

Anybody with information about people selling counterfeit goods is urged to contact trading standards on 01633 647 624 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or email tradingstandards@torfaen.gov.uk.