Selling of KN95 face masks leads to jail sentence

Posted on Monday 27 February 2023

IN JULY 2022 Hull Cleaning Ltd and it’s Director Mr Paul Scott-South pleaded guilty to offences relating to the sale of KN95 masks during the Covid 19 pandemic.

The convictions were secured under the PPE and Consumer Protection legislation. After much delay and debate the case finally went for sentencing on the 24 February 2023.

At the sentencing hearing Mr Scott-South was imprisoned for 9 months, fined £5,000 with £5,000 costs. In sentencing, the judge made it clear how serious he considered the case and the potential risk to users of the companies' "useless" facemasks.

BSIF had been involved in supporting Trading Standards in this prosecution, providing product testing from an “Approved” laboratory, as well as advice and expert witness statements. We were thanked by East Riding of Yorkshire Trading Standards for our support in bringing this successful prosecution. East Riding of Yorkshire Trading Standards went on to say that they hoped that we could use this case and sentencing to impress on the market, the gravity of non-compliance and the potential for loss of liberty and heavy fines should they be discovered.