Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver escapes jail over toxic counterfeit vodka that 'could cause coma'



Vodka contained chemicals and wrongly featured name of real brand

A cabby from Runcorn was given a suspended sentenced and had his taxi seized after toxic vodka that could cause drinkers to fall into a coma was found in his vehicle.

Ian Baldwin, 50, of Grangeway, pleaded guilty to 21 offences relating to counterfeit and illicit alcohol and tobacco seized from his taxi, his personal vehicle and a storage unit last December.

He was sentenced at Halton Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A Halton Trading Standards spokesman said Baldwin was working as a taxi driver in Chester when he was stopped just after leaving his home address during a joint operation by Halton Borough Council and Cheshire Police.

The haul of illicit hand-rolling tobacco and cigarettes along with 26 litres of counterfeit vodka and 108 bottles of illicit untraceable wine had a street value of over £1,700.

Food such as alcohol products are required to be marked with traceability information so that in the event a problem is found with a batch, the supplier can undertake an effective withdrawal and inform consumers.

Court papers said Baldwin also had packets of cigarettes not featuring health warnings in the required form and the vodka falsely featured the ‘Chekov’ brand.

The taxi was seized by the police because it was being used to facilitate crime, along with £790 in cash and three mobile phones.

The prosecution was taken by Halton Trading Standards and Halton’s environmental health team.

The vodka was found to be unfit for human consumption and unsafe because it contained i-Propanol and i-Butanol – i-Propanol is a chemical found in rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizers, and cleaning products and poisoning causes stomach pain, confusion, dizziness, slowed breathing and can lead to a coma – and i-Butanol is used in paint solvents, varnish removers and ink, and poisoning can cause irritation to eyes, skin and throat, headache and drowsiness.

Baldwin was sentenced to six months and 12 weeks in custody to run concurrently, both suspended for two years, and a 20-day community requirement plus ordering that he pay £1,000 in costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

The magistrate said that as a taxi-driver he had been in a position of trust when he was selling bottles of vodka that had been contaminated, which was a public health issue.

The court granted an application for the forfeiture of all goods and cash seized including the taxi which the defendant had valued at £26,000.

Cllr Dave Cargill (Trading Standards) said: “Halton experiences an unacceptable level of alcohol related harm with significant impact on local individuals, families and communities and likewise smoking in Halton continues to have a significant impact on mortality rates.

“The availability of cheap cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol can make it even harder for people to quit smoking or reduce their alcohol intake.

“The risks associated with the counterfeit vodka were so concerning that Trading Standards issued a press release to warn the public at the time of the seizure.”

Anyone with information about anybody selling counterfeit alcohol or tobacco in Halton should inform Trading Standards, anonymously if preferred, by contacting them via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 040 506.


source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liv ... r-11730222

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I don't think he should have escaped jail that fake vodka could kill or blow up a Boston industrial unit

he was taking risks with other peoples lives lucky he was caught when he was

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The article doesn't make it clear if he was convicted of selling or making the stuff, more likely just storing and moving. Still a serious matter, but not top of the list.

Also the street value of £1,700 is low compared with similar offences.

He has also lost his cab and his livelihood, so I'm not sure he has got off that lightly.

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IDFIMH

He was selling it, and although his cab was taken away he is currently renting one off someone else and has been since his was impounded.

Surley the council will remove his license ?? they should in my opinion hes a turd dangerous GARGLE FFS

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

If people are stupid enough to buy cheap Vodka they suffer the consequences on their own.

whilst there are some I think might benefit from the experience the consequences can be horrific it shouldn't happen. there was a local kebab shop here selling the stuff under the counter they got caught applied for a drinks license and surprise surprise got refused

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

you in for a SAINTHOOD

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

If it's cheap you know it's going to be full of nasties. Them people will take beds up at the A&E. I'd just tip them out and tell them to F**k off home.