A businessman has been fined thousands of pounds after a schoolgirl was injured by a set of fake plastic fangs.
Almost 3,000 of the £1.20 Fright Fangs have been withdrawn from sale after they cut the 12-year-old’s gums, prompting an investigation by trading standards officers.
The girl’s mother alerted Islington Council after her daughter suffered cuts to her mouth and gums when trying out the fangs.
The council launched a prosecution after tests showed the fake teeth, imported from China, posed a potential hazard to children.
Jonathan Laidlaw, 56, who owns import firm JL Supplies and party shop Zebedee in Liverpool Road, Islington, was ordered to pay a total of £5,200 in fines and legal fees at Highbury Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Laidlaw told the Standard he accepted “full responsibility”, adding: “They are all now sitting in our warehouse.”
Councillor Paul Convery, Islington Council’s executive member for community safety, said: “This product was not safe and should not have been on sale.”
Mr Laidlaw was fined £2,000 and told to pay the council’s £2,000 legal costs and a £200 victim surcharge. His company J L Supplies was fined a total of £1,000.
But he said that he would now do everything he could to ensure future products were fit for purpose.
Mr Laidlaw added: “Once bitten, twice shy, I suppose.”
