A company has been ordered to pay out more than £6,000 for supplying counterfeit toys.

Brent and Harrow Trading Standards officers seized the toys after spotting them during spot checks on stalls in central Harrow and tracked down the supplier, Dashmesh Company Ltd, and its director Jalinder Ahuja.

Dashmesh Company Ltd and Ahuja pleaded guilty to six charges each for supplying the toys.

The company was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £120, plus £1,930 in costs, at Willesden Magistrates Court on March 1.

Ahuja, 41, of Kingston Upon Thames, was fined £500 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £50 and £215 costs.

Harrow Council said the seized toys did not display the correct labelling, had small parts which may have presented a choking hazard to young children, did not show any suitable safety warnings and were counterfeit.

Glad the dangerous toys have been removed from sale

Brent and Harrow Trading Standards officers seized the toys
Brent and Harrow Trading Standards officers seized the toys

Investigations revealed the toys had been supplied to both stalls by Dashmesh Company Ltd, of Delamere Road in Hayes .

A Harrow Council spokesperson said: “These toys contained small parts which could have choked a young child. Safety laws are there for a good reason and we will make sure anyone who tries to cut costs by ignoring these laws faces the consequences.

“We are glad these dangerous toys have been removed from sale and hope these fines deter any other unscrupulous businesses.”

Trading Standards officers reportedly searched the wholesale premises of Dashmesh Company Ltd in Bridge, Road, Southall , and found hundreds more non-compliant toys, which the company had imported from overseas.

'Vital these laws are complied with'

Harrow Council said they are pleased that the toys have been removed from sale
Harrow Council said they are pleased that the toys have been removed from sale

Magistrates heard both defendants had previous convictions relating to very similar offences.

They said they were taking into account the number of offences, the fact that the toys would have be sold to children, and the defendant’s previous history, when passing their sentence.

Simon Legg, Senior Regulatory Service Manager at Brent and Harrow Trading Standards , said: “Strict laws are in place to ensure toys are as safe as they can be.

“It is vital these laws are complied with as young children won’t always see or understand dangers. Unscrupulous businesses who cut costs by importing cheap and often unsafe toys must face the consequences.

“I hope the fines in this case act as a deterrent whilst at the same time, ensuring fair competition between other businesses who import toys.”