A SHOP director and her husband have been warned they could face jail after they admitted to selling counterfeit vodka described by a customer as tasting like "drinking paint stripper."
The offences took place at Best One on Clipsley Lane in Haydock, where unsafe vodka and counterfeit cigarettes were discovered during a visit by St Helens Borough Council on July 23, 2025.
The investigation was prompted by a complaint made on July 15, last year, from a member of the public who claimed vodka purchased from the shop was "like drinking paint stripper."
Mitesh Patel, 50, and his wife Sejalben Patel, 45, both of Cliplsley Lane, Haydock, pleaded guilty to charges at Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, September 24.
Sejalben Patel also entered guilty pleas on behalf of News 'N' Wine Ltd, the company operating the store, of which she is director.
Alison Ennett, prosecuting on behalf of St Helens Borough Council, told the court that officers visited the shop on July 23, last year.
The court heard that six bottles of the vodka were purchased for £30.
Ms Ennett said: "An officer followed Mr Patel and said there appeared to be another store room in the yard.
"There were various food products, cigarettes and alcohol."
Analysis confirmed that the vodka was counterfeit and unfit for human consumption.
Cigarettes were also found to be counterfeit and did not comply with packaging or health warning regulations.
Ms Ennett told the court that Mr Patel repeatedly claimed to have purchased the vodka from "an unknown male" and said he bought the cigarettes from "a different unknown male."
She said: "The clear impression is Mr Patel controls the day to day operation rather than his wife.
"The authorities have no confidence they have any regard for the serious nature of the offences and continue to have taken no responsibility for their behaviour.
"There is clear evidence they have no regard for the serious matters before this court, the public health issues.
"The prosecution say they should be considered at the high level of each of the sentencing guidelines."
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Mitesh Patel pleaded guilty to three offences, in relation to the 'Glen's Vodka', while Sejalben Patel pleaded guilty to seven counts, relating to the vodka and cigarettes.
She also admitted to seven offences on behalf of the company.
The court heard that the offences included possessing and selling vodka containing denatured alcohol, which rendered it unfit for consumption.
Other charges included the sale and supply of counterfeit cigarettes that did not carry the required health warnings and did not comply with standardised packaging regulations.
Additional offences related to the sale of goods bearing false trademarks, including both the vodka and 250 packets of Richmond cigarettes.
Magistrates ruled that pre-sentence reports are necessary before the case proceeds to sentencing.
The court heard that sentencing options for the defendants ranged from fines, up to custodial sentences.
For the company, the starting point for a fine would be £12,000, it was said.
The case was adjourned for sentencing until Monday, November 9.
The court warned the defendants that "all options including custody" remain open.
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