A businessman who sold electronic cigarettes in Chester with nicotine levels far higher than they should have been is to be sentenced.

Hamin Latif Rashed, 40, of High Street, Connah's Quay, Deeside, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, August 14, to five counts of selling illegal vapes.

Prosecuting, Will Griffin said it was on November 30, 2022, when officers from Cheshire West and Chester Council made an unannounced visit with HMRC at the H Food Plus store in Boughton, Chester, where a total of 121 illegal e-cigarettes were discovered.

Among those were 90 Elux e-cigarettes with 10ml of nicotine-containing liquid, compared to what should have been 2ml.

Also found were seven ENE e-cigarettes with 10ml of nicotine-containing liquid, a Gorilla Bar e-cigarette with 14ml of nicotine-containing liquid, and eight R&M e-cigarettes with 18ml of nicotine-containing liquid.

There were also 15 Crystal e-cigarettes for which the container packs contained no indication of the nicotine content.

The court heard each e-cigarette would be sold for about £10.

Defending, Michael Gray said Rashed had only been involved with the company for a short period of time, and the defendant had no previous convictions.

That company had also since been dissolved.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report, with Rashed unconditionally bailed to return to the magistrates on October 9.