Huddersfield based retailer Mamas & Papas fined for selling unsafe car seats

By Olivia Russell
Mamas & Papas are fined after selling over 150,000 dangerous children’s car seats across a 39 month period.
The retail chain has been ordered to pay nearly £350,000 in fines, costs and confiscated profits.
The seats were designed for children from 0-4 years old, and over 150,000 were sold by Argos between January 2013 and April 2016.
The Mamas & Papas branded Mercury model has since been discontinued following prosecution.
Representatives from Mamas & Papas pleaded guilty for supplying unsafe car seats.
His Honour Judge Rochford said during the hearing: “No parent will compromise the safety of their child. They are entitled to expect products they to accord with safety regulations. In relation to Mamas & Papas Ltd, a well-know and reputable brand, they can expect the standards to be as high as they can be. Both defendants have down parents and have put children at risk”.
Crash simulation tests were conducted over the 3-year investigation, using a child-size dummy to find faults with the mercury-branded child car seats.
The prosecution follows an investigation underwent by Milton Kenyes Council Trading Standards department; they found that the Mamas & Papas Mercury branded child car seats were unsafe, as the seats could crack and allowed too much head movement, leading to potential injury”.
Although the seats were sold through Argos, Argos are not liable for the damages and have not accused of any wrong-doing.
A 12-week prison sentence was granted to Christine Mitchell, director of car seat distributers Jeenay (U.K), who approved and supplied the faulty seats. The £236,000 Mitchell earned from selling the unsafe car seats will be confiscated.