Westminster store director admits selling unsafe Christmas lights in Queensway
Abdul Hamidi pleaded guilty to six offences under electrical safety regulations after trading standards seized 33 sets of lights
Trust 66Craft 95Hype 52How this was reported ▾
Includes named council member, store director, and lab report, but lacks independent outlets.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
Explains safety risk, quotes officials, gives figures, and outlines sentencing date.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Headline uses 'Lethal' while article reports only shock risk, a mild sensational tilt.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
1 source assessed · methodology
A director of a Westminster bargain store has admitted selling Christmas lights that posed a serious risk of electric shock. Abdul Hamidi, who runs the Great Value Store in Queensway, pleaded guilty to six offences under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. The case was heard at Westminster magistrates' court on 29 July 2024.
Westminster City Council trading standards officers seized 33 sets of the lights and 26 adaptors from the store. A laboratory report, as reported by MyLondon, classified the lights as a 'high risk' product. The report found that the lights, sold under the trade name Guida, had counterfeit plugs and fuses, making live parts easily accessible.
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Councillor Caroline Sargent, Westminster City Council deputy leader and cabinet member for enforcement, said the lights could have caused fires or electric shocks. She told MyLondon: "Anyone buying these Christmas decorations could find their home lit up in more ways than the obvious."
These lights were so badly made they exposed the user to the risk of electric shock and fire. The problem with bargains too good to be true is they are often shoddily made and unsafe.
Cllr Caroline Sargent, Westminster City Council
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Sargent added that the lights would not have brought festive cheer. She said the council's trading standards officers would continue to ensure shoppers in Westminster receive safe and legal products. The case against Hamidi was adjourned for reports, with sentencing scheduled for 19 August 2024.
How to check product safety
Westminster City Council advised shoppers to be cautious when purchasing electrical items. Trading standards officers recommended checking for safety markings such as the CE and UKCA symbols. They also suggested verifying whether the brand is recognised and whether the packaging appears cheap or poorly made.
The council urged consumers to question whether a bargain seems too good to be true. MyLondon reported that the seized lights did not meet regulatory standards, with the counterfeit components increasing the risk of electrical faults.
What happens next
Abdul Hamidi is due to be sentenced at Westminster magistrates' court on 19 August 2024. The court will consider the laboratory report and the admission of guilt before determining the penalty. Westminster City Council has not indicated whether further action will be taken against the store.
Questions this report answers
+What was wrong with the Christmas lights seized in Queensway?
The lights had counterfeit plugs and fuses, making live parts easily accessible. A laboratory report classified them as 'high risk' due to the potential for electric shock and fire. They did not meet regulatory safety standards.
+Who is responsible for selling the unsafe lights?
Abdul Hamidi, director of the Great Value Store in Queensway, admitted six offences under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. He is due to be sentenced on 19 August 2024 at Westminster magistrates' court.
+How can shoppers check if electrical products are safe?
Trading standards advise checking for safety markings like CE and UKCA symbols. Shoppers should also verify the brand's reputation and inspect the packaging for quality. If a bargain seems too good to be true, it may be unsafe.
+What happens next in the case against Abdul Hamidi?
Hamidi is due to be sentenced at Westminster magistrates' court on 19 August 2024. The court will consider the laboratory report and his admission of guilt before determining the penalty for the offences.
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