Man caught selling cigarettes outside Staffordshire police station
A man was seen selling cigarettes outside a town police station by an officer looking out of a window, a court has heard.
Sedat Yurukhu was storing cigarettes in an orange box with a Just Eat logo on in his car, which was searched by police after he was spotted in Rugeley town centre, Newcastle magistrates were told on Monday (September 1).
The 51-year-old then agreed to a voluntary search at his home address in High Street, Colton. Officers found more cigarettes as well as vapes and around £4,000 in cash, as well as more than 3,000 Turkish lira, but the court heard £1,500 belonged to someone else.
Lucy Daniels, prosecuting on behalf of Staffordshire County Council, told the court: “This came to light on April 4 2023, when an officer observed from a first floor window at Rugeley Police Station. The defendant was seen by a VW Golf exchanging cigarettes for cash and the officer formed the opinion he was selling illegal cigarettes to people in the street.
“He confirmed he was selling cigarettes and he knew it was wrong. A search of the vehicle was carried out and cigarettes found in an orange box with a Just Eat logo on.
“The vehicle was driven round to the rear car park and (the officer) found cigarettes, pipe tobacco and a notebook containing details of sales listed. The defendant agreed to a voluntary search of his home address.
“Staffordshire Police contacted Staffordshire Trading Standards on April 13 and Trading Standards Officers then undertook an investigation. The cigarettes and pipe tobacco didn’t have health warnings in English, which is required by regulation, and there were further products that didn’t comply with standard packaging.”
Vapes seized by officers were also found to exceed the size permitted by UK standards, the court heard. Yurukhu admitted the charges relating to incorrectly labelled tobacco products and vapes exceeding the permitted size and will be sentenced at a later date.
John McGregor, defending, told the court Yurukhu had been asked to sell cigarettes to members of the Turkish community. “Having brought some back on holiday, the Turkish community got talking – it never went much further”,” he said.
“It was found through an officer looking out a window and my client being outside the police station selling cigarettes. He co-operated with the police and took them back to his house – his partner assisted with the search.
“There was a health warning on the packaging, but it was not in English and the requirement is for it to be in English. He accepts that while he thought he was doing people a favour he was not.
“He has been ostracised by the community for not carrying on. It has played on his mind.”
