A trader who imported almost 1,000 non-compliant and unsafe e-scooters and e-bikes has been successfully prosecuted by Islington Council following a Trading Standards investigation.
One of the illegal devices seized (image credit: Islington Council)
Sardar Rassa, who traded as Rassa Bikes and Scooters Limited, was the recipient of a consignment which was intercepted at a port in Suffolk when an initial test revealed safety failings.
Rassa was advised to return the goods to China, but he insisted they were legally compliant and ignored warnings. The consignment was released and moved to a storage facility in Islington, north London, where Islington Council Trading Standards ordered their immediate suspension until they could be shown to be safe.
The storage facility where the devices were kept (image credit: Islington Council)
However, Rassa failed to conduct any product safety testing, contrary to his legal responsibilities. Testing commissioned by the council revealed serious safety issues, ranging from improper labelling to critical component failures, which led to the 243 e-scooters and scooters still in storage being seized by Trading Standards Officers. It is not known what Rassa did with the remaining stock.
Rassa, from Islington, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 6 January 2025 after pleading guilty to 12 offences relating to product safety failings and suspension notice breaches. He was handed a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months.
As highlighted here, unsafe e-scooters have caused deadly fires involving lithium-ion batteries, which can overheat and explode.
Councillor Angelo Weekes, Executive Member for Community Safety at Islington Council, said: “Unsafe e-scooters can pose a real danger, and we have zero tolerance for unsafe products in Islington. We take tough action to protect our residents and ensure their safety. Thanks to the hard work of our Trading Standards and Legal Services teams, this importer has been held to account.”
Islington Council is urging consumers to buy from trusted sellers and follow government guidance.
