Haulier jailed for booze smuggling
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by Andrew Sangster • The boss of a West Midlands haulage firm who tried to save his business by smuggling duty-free drinks from the Continent has been jailed.
Darren Whitehouse was convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court last week of distributing smuggled cases of whisky, brandy and vodka. He was sentenced to four months in jail after admitting to evading £40,000 of excise duty. Whitehouse pleaded in mitigation that he needed the cash to pay off tax debts.
The 42-year-olds lawyer told the court that a jail sentence would threaten the future of the haulage business, Whitehouse Transport. The Dudley-based company runs 11 vehicles and employs 11 drivers. The court was told: 'Whitehouse was a much less significant player in what was a large-scale operation. He distributed to friends and contacts who were delighted to receive cheap alcohol."
When Whitehouse was stopped by police he was found to have 69 cases of vodka in the back of his truck. A search of his home revealed more spirits and £6,950 in cash. He still owes the inland revenue £14,000.