Cleared driver believes case ruined job chances
Page 16
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A West Midlands lorry driver, cleared of taking part in a 46.5m illegal alcohol smuggling operation from the Continent, claims the trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court ruined his life (CM15-21 May).
John Cain, of Smethwick, had unwittingly transported bootleg alcohol and parcels of cash containing up to £70,000 to and from the Continent while working as a driver for an Oldbury light haulage firm.
After the trial Cain said he was ecstatic to be found not guilty of the fraudulent evasion of duty on imported alcohol.
But he said the case had led to him being sacked from two driving jobs. He resigned from his job with Nixon Light Haulage of Oldbury, near Dudley, as soon as he could following his arrest.
But he was sacked from his next two jobs with West Bromwich firms after informing his employers about the trial.
The jury cleared Cain but found Hardial Phull, of Wolverhampton, guilty of the fraudulent evasion of duty on imported alcohol.
The jury had been told that Nixon Light Haulage was at the centre of the £6.5m smuggling ring.
The court heard that when it was raided in November last year by Customs & Excise officers, the depot in Rood End Road was "stacked to the ceiling" with illegally imported beers, wines and spirits.
Phull has been remanded on conditional bail until 28 May while pre-sentence reports are prepared.