Shopkeeper sentenced and tagged for selling potentially dangerous toys, electrical products and cosmetics

Trading standards officers said they found a shopkeeper selling hundreds of unsafe products including toys that failed to meet safety standards and items which posed a risk of electric shock.

Derbyshire County Council said Phillip Rose, (aged 68), of Highfield Drive, Ilkeston, was given a four month community order and had a curfew imposed – monitored by tag – by magistrates after admitting selling unsafe goods including toys, hair straighteners and cosmetics.

The council said Rose appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court where he admitted four charges of selling multiple unsafe goods at his shop, the Catalogue Clearance Company, in Armstrong’s Mill, in the town.

It said trading standards officers visited the shop in April 2021, after being told he was selling unsafe products. They ended up seizing 753 items including hair straighteners, power tools and robot vacuum cleaners.

A spokesman said: “Examples of the goods were sent for testing and examination with five products found to be unsafe and posing a risk of electric shock.

“The court heard that Rose had failed to put in place any steps to check the products he was selling.

“As a result of the trading standards investigation 743 of the seized items were the subject of forfeiture and destruction.”

The council said Rose, who the court heard has ceased trading, was ordered to pay the prosecution costs of £10,350 and a £95 victim surcharge.

The council said the four charges Rose admitted included making available 312 items of electrical equipment and 62 toys that failed to conform to safety standards.

It said he also made available 43 jars of Estee Lauder cream which failed to comply with safety standards plus a further 80 miscellaneous products which did not conform to required standards.

Council cabinet member for health and communities Coun Carol Hart said: “Selling unsafe and unregulated goods will not be tolerated in Derbyshire and our trading standards officers will always act when informed of traders who are thought to be selling goods which could affect public safety.