A beauty shop in Kingsland High Street has been hit with a record fine after illegally selling dangerous skin-lightening products.

Dalston Hair and Cosmetics, trading as Shaba Cosmetics, was ordered to pay £59,793 for stocking creams containing illegal ingredient hydroquinone, which can burn the skin and cause permanent damage.

Director Mohammed Naeem pleaded guilty to the 13 charges against him and 13 against his company. At Thames Magistrates’ Court on April 13 he was fined £14,000, and the company £42,000, as well as a victim surcharge.

The fine is thought to be the largest issued in London for a breach of the cosmetics regulations.

Hackney’s housing director Kim Wright, said: “Skin lightening creams can cause horrific burns that last a lifetime. Businesses who flout the law by selling these dangerous illegal products risk prosecution, heavy fines and imprisonment.”