3m cigarettes were for 'heavy smokers'
Page 15
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A haulier who claimed that the three million cigarettes he was caught smuggling into the UK were for personal use has lost an appeal. John Shaw from Sheffield was jailed for two years and three months for the fraudulent evasion of tobacco duties.
Last week the Criminal Court of Appeal heard that he was arrested at Dover in October 1996 while returning from Spain. Lord Justice Henry said: "The appellant's defence was that while he had brought the cigarettes into this country from Spain without paying any duty, they were intended for himself and members of his family—all of whom he said were heavy smokers."
The cigarettes had a retail value of around £500,000: the evaded duty came to £274,000.
Graham Davies, for Shaw, challenged the conviction, claiming interventions by trial judge Judge David HughesMorgan during the defence evidence had denied Shaw a fair trial.
But Lord Justice Henry decided: "The interventions did not make it impossible for the defence to conduct their case...they were courteous and not sarcastic."
Shaw was paroled from prison on Tuesday 16 March tagged to ensure he complies with a curfew order.