The manager of two Londis stores in Plumstead has been fined £2,300 after he sold bottles of wine and spirits which had fake labels on them, or on which the excise duty had not been paid.

Thirulogachandran Nesan, who runs the stores in Lakedale Road and Plumstead High Street, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court last Friday (September 11).

He pleaded guilty to having smuggled goods on his premises, and selling alcohol that had fake labels - making it look like the UK duty had been paid.

A total of 25 bottles of spirits were identified from the shop floor shelves involving five different brands, and another 76 in the stockroom.

News Shopper:

A second visit by Greenwich’s Trading Standards team, together with the police, led to the seizure of 57 bottles of Italian wine.

The court ordered that the alcohol involved in his guilty pleas should be forfeited. Nesan must also pay a surcharge of £120.

The council’s cabinet member for community safety and environment Coun Jackie Smith said: “Selling illegal alcohol not only damages legitimate businesses, but potentially puts lives at risk as well.”

TODAY'S TOP STORIES:

Those who have information about traders selling suspicious alcohol, or businesses who feel they may have been visited by an illegal supplier, are urged to contact the borough’s Trading Standards team on 0208921 8223.