Offering unsafe children’s motorbikes for sale has cost a Cross Hands businessman and his firm more than £26,000.
Rajbit Singh Kullar and Kullars Ltd pleaded guilty to offences of offering unsafe products for sale and trade mark offences.
Swansea Crown Court was told that the offences involved a business venture that imports and sells mini motor bikes.
Kullar, who is predominantly active in the hotel and public house businesses, decided to import the children’s bikes and sell them via his website and ebay.
A complaint received by Carmarthenshire Trading Standards as to the quality of the bikes led to warrants being executed and the seizure of the mini bikes.
On subsequent expert examination the bikes were shown to be in a dangerous and unsafe condition, with any use potentially resulting in serious injury. In addition some of the bikes were illegally using the Honda trade mark, to falsely indicate that the bikes were made or approved by Honda, when this was not the case.
The case had been referred to the Crown Court from Llanelli Magistrates who took a dim view of the potential serious risks of injury to children, and that the defendant and his company had done no checks whatsoever as to the bikes compliance with the relevant safety standards.
An application by the prosecution for a Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation order for the sum of £2,148.93 representing the total benefit obtained from the sale of the mini bikes was granted.
Kullar was fined £5,000 for the product safety offences and £1,000 for the trade mark offences, and Kullars Ltd was fined £2,500 for the product safety offences and £500 for the trade mark offences.
Kullar was ordered to pay £10,000 costs and Kullars Ltd was ordered to pay £5,000 costs.
Executive board member for housing and public protection Cllr Hugh Evans said: “Carmarthenshire County Council takes the issue of safety very seriously. The potential consequences for any user of an unsafe vehicle could be fatal.
“I hope that the outcome of this case will serve as a warning to all concerned that we will not hesitate to act where the potential safety of consumers is endangered.”
