Cigarette Smuggler Threatened With Prison

A cigarette smuggler has been told that if he attempts to smuggle cigarettes into the country one more time he will be locked up.

Cristopher Kellett has had in total eight warnings for attempting to smuggle cigarettes into the country and was told that one more attempt would find him behind bars. It is estimated that he has attempted to avoid nearly £12,000 in payable duty on the goods he has brought into the country.

Kellett, 38 was caught six time from 2004-2006 and each time warned about his smuggling antics however making little difference.  Kellett was warned about the  contents of his luggage which was confiscated but was allowed to continue about his business.

Teeside Crown Court heard that Kellett had intotal tried to smuggle 64,000 cigarettes into the UK as well as 30kg of hand rolling tobacco. Judge Guy Whitburn imposed a sentence of nine months in prison suspended for two years with a probation service supervision order.

The court heard that Kellett believed that what he ws doing was legitimate and was described as having a 'thinking deficit'

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Published by: Jon Vickery