A BLACKBURN bar owner was caught selling a cheaper brand of vodka from bottles bearing the Smirnoff label, a court has heard.

Blackburn magistrates were told that bottles bearing the Smirnoff label were found full of vodka but with the seals broken when trading standards officers raided The Grove, Church Street.

But Peter Turner, defending, said his client, Christopher Leksinski, had made a mistake rather than setting out to defraud anyone.

And the publican told the court that his customers would have been "totally happy" with the alcohol content of the vodka they were served.

Leksinski, 59, of East Lancs Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to four charges of selling goods not of the substance or quality demanded by the purchaser and one of possessing a bottle of vodka bearing a false trade mark.

He was fined £1,000 with £800 costs.

Five similar charges against his wife, Jane Frances Leksinski, 47, of the same address, were withdrawn.

Alan Fairhurst, prosecuting, said trading standards officers carried out authenticity tests on drinks purchased in the pub and the vodka from the Smirnoff bottles failed the test.

Leksinski said he did not think he was doing anything wrong because his customers were getting value for money.

Mr Turner said Leksinski had an impeccable record in both his personal and business lives and submitted references from his accountant, bank manager and a retired tax inspector.

"He has made a mistake rather that setting out to deliberately defraud anybody," said Mr Turner.