CHEATING licensees who disguise cheap booze in brand-name bottles have been warned they are being watched.

Trading standards officers in Bournemouth are out and about in a bid to ensure the public is not being deceived.

"Put simply, we want to nail this type of fraud," said Cllr David Smith, Bournemouth's portfolio holder on community issues.

He spoke out after a former restaurant owner was fined £750 and ordered to pay £400 costs for replacing Gordon's Gin and Bacardi Rum with unknown brands.

Tai Tai Cheung, the former licensee of the Good Earth restaurant in Christchurch Road, Boscombe, pleaded guilty to two offences when she appeared before Bournemouth magistrates.

The court was told that a trading standards officer had taken samples from the bottles of spirits after becoming suspicious during a spot check.

Mrs Cheung, of Christchurch Road, Boscombe had no explanation for the Bacardi but told the court the gin had got muddled up with her stock after she brought a bottle from home.

"I'm delighted that the court saw through the excuses and recognised the con for what it was," said trading standards principal officer Andy Sherriff. "Licensees should take note that our officers are experienced and know the signs when something's wrong - this is a fairly familiar trick."

Cllr Smith added: "We don't like deception and we won't let traders get away with cheating the public."

Mr Sherriff stressed that checks are carried out regularly at licensed premises across Bournemouth.