The former owner of a shop in Oxford has been ordered to pay nearly £9,000 in fines and costs after being convicted of selling illegal vaping products. Shafiullah Malikzadeh, 38, of Northampton, was found guilty of eight offences at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 27 April 2026, following an investigation into Matean Market at 128 Hollow Way.
The prosecution, led by the Oxfordshire County Council trading standards team, followed the discovery of products containing nicotine levels up to five times the legal limit. Under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, the maximum allowed nicotine strength for e-liquids is 20mg/ml. Officers seized 32 packs of non-compliant vapes during an inspection in May 2024, and further illegal items were identified during covert test purchases in the following month.
The court heard that Malikzadeh, who denied ownership of the business during the proceedings, failed to engage with council officers throughout 2023. Despite multiple attempts by officials to provide guidance on legal requirements, he did not respond to requests for meetings or letters sent to his home address.
The total bill of £8,955.50 imposed on the former owner includes £3,000 in fines, a £1,200 victim surcharge, and £4,755.50 in legal costs. This case marks the eighth time an individual has been prosecuted in connection with activities at the same shop location.
Matean Market is now under new ownership and, according to recent inspections, the premises is currently in full legal compliance.
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