A TOWN centre pub owner has admitted selling counterfeit vodka to unsuspecting drinkers.

Gerald Joseph Dooley, of Fitzherbert Street, Orford, was the designated premises supervisor at Porters Ale House on Buttermarket Street when inspectors from Trading Standards visited the pub in December.

It was during the inspection that the team discovered three one litre bottles of counterfeit Glen’s Vodka on the bar –two of which were already being served to customers.

A further 36 bottles of the counterfeit vodka were seized after being discovered in the cellar.

Manufacturers of Glen’s Vodka, Loch Lomond Distillers, analysed samples of the seized vodka and confirmed that the contents of the bottles were counterfeit.

The strength of the alcohol in the bottles was only 34.7 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) compared to the required 37.5 per cent ABV strength for vodka.

The 48-year-old was fined £800 for the offences and ordered to undertake 120 hours of unpaid work at the hearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on July 8.

He will also pay the prosecution costs of £800 and a £60 victim surcharge.

Peter Astley, assistant director for regulation and public protection, said: “Just by simply looking at the bottles, it would have become apparent that something wasn’t right.

"None of the labels on the bottles were straight and the boxes didn’t have the batch marking information printed on them.

"Someone with Mr Dooley’s experience in the licensing trade should have performed these basic checks."

Cllr Judith Guthrie, executive board member for environment and public protection, added: "Fake alcohol is extremely dangerous as the contents of the bottles are simply unknown.

"These fines should be a clear warning to other businesses and retailers considering selling counterfeit alcohol.”