A Southall wholesaler selling dangerous phone chargers and designer fakes is facing a fine of almost £15,000 after being prosecuted by Ealing Council.

The chargers failed to meet British electrical safety standards and had the potential to overheat or explode. There were also counterfeit Apple iPhone items including front screens, back plates and covers.

The director of Mr Phone Limited, Banoch Kumar, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company at Ealing Magistrates Court on Thursday, 6 June 2013 to 9 charges of having for sale unsafe electrical phone chargers and 11 charges of having for sale counterfeit phone and electronic accessories.

Designer fakes found at the business, based in Southall Enterprise Centre on Bridge Road, included items with Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Chanel, Beats by Dr Dre and Louis Vuitton logos.

Ealing Magistrates Court fined the company £7,040 for stocking fake goods and £3,465 for breaching electrical safety laws. They will also have to pay Ealing Council’s legal costs of £4,405 and a victim surcharge of £20, bringing the total penalty to £14,930.

Officers from Ealing Council launched the investigation after being contacted by colleagues from Suffolk County Council discovered a container full of unsafe mobile chargers imported from China by Mr Phone Limited at the port of Felixstowe in November 2011.

They informed officers at Ealing Council who launched an investigation. Trading standards officers from Brent and Harrow also alerted Ealing to concerns about the company.

An inspection of the business in April 2012 by Ealing trading standards officers, found a large amount of counterfeit items in a concealed room. All items will now be destroyed.

Ealing Council leader, Julian Bell said: "This is an excellent result and a great example of how we work with colleagues from councils across the country to ensure consumers are protected from dangerous goods or being ripped off."

> "Unsafe electrical items can overheat, cause fires or give electric shocks. I therefore hope the size of the penalty serves as a warning to any trader thinking of putting profit before their customers’ safety."