Local Company fined £20,000

Huddersfield based Mamas & Papas has been fined £20,000 for selling dangerous car seats.

An investigation was conducted by Milton Keynes Council Trading Standards Team into the car seats which were tested in crash simulation using a child sized dummy.

Mercury branded car seats were found to be defective as they could crack and allow excessive head movements.  150,000 of the car seats were sold, they have since been recalled.

In addition to the £20,000 fine, Mamas & Papas were ordered by the Court to pay £50,000 in costs to Milton Keynes Council and the £275,000 worth of profits that the company had made as a result of the sale of these car seats was confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The investigation by Milton Keynes Council also led to a 12 week prison sentence for Christine Mitchell who was a Director of Car Seats distributors, (Jeenay UK) Ltd.  This was the company who supplied the car seats in question.

Christine Mitchell also had to forfeit the £236,000 which she had earned from selling the seats.

This case highlights the importance of ensuring you are aware of the obligations Trading Standards placed on you. Mamas & Papas pleaded guilty to an offence under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

Should you require advice on the standards you are required to meet or find yourself being prosecuted by Trading Standards then Chadwick Lawrence can help.  Please contact Nils O’Donoghue on nilso@chadlaw.co.uk or 01484 51 99 99.