Jewson were prosecuted after it was found to be selling helmets which failed impact tests at its Northampton store. Northamptonshire County Council bought helmets from two branches in Corby and Northampton in January 2012 and found that both failed the EN 397 shock absorbent standard test which required the helmet to absorb the impact of a 5kg object dropped from a metre.
Whilst Jewson immediately withdrew the helmets from sale, it was estimated that they had sold 63,000 over the previous 11 years. The most recent test certificate was dated 2001 which stated the helmets bore the words “complies with: EN 397”. Jewson was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,500.
