Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB Published: 23 May 2008
Saman Hamadi
Asbo ban for fake fags seller
A SELLER of toxic counterfeit cigarettes has been banned from the Nag’s Head area of Holloway.
Saman Hamadi, 18, was given a two-year anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court two weeks ago. The order prevents him from entering the Nag’s Head area and carrying two or more packets of counterfeit cigarettes or rolling tobacco anywhere in England and Wales.
In September last year, Mr Hamadi was jailed for 21 days for possessing a large quantity of counterfeit cigarettes. He was served a post-conviction Asbo by the Nag’s Head Safer Neighbourhoods police team.
Since then, he has breached three interim Asbos in Islington, Newham and Tower Hamlets. PC Matt Fletcher, from the Nag’s Head Safer Neighbourhoods team, said: “This send a powerful message to the illegal sellers who continue to blight the Nag’s Head by harassing and intimidating shoppers and having a negative impact on businesses. We will not tolerate the sale of counterfeit goods. “Hamadi has already been sent to prison once. If he breaks the rules again he faces up to five years inside. We will continue to tackle illegal street trading to make the Nag’s Head a safer place for everyone.”
PC Carl Wearn, from Islington Council’s anti-social behaviour team, said: “This is an excellent result for us and, more importantly, the shoppers and traders of the Nag’s Head.”