Couple found with smuggled tobacco
A COUPLE were stopped by police carrying so much smuggled tobacco in their van that it was sitting low down on its axles, a court heard.
Kevin Worton was jailed for nine months after being caught with 625 kilograms of tobacco by officers on the A38 at Plympton.
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Plymouth Crown Court heard the tobacco had been brought into the country without payment of the required £72,224 in duty.
Judge Francis Gilbert said that Worton and his wife Alison had driven from their Birmingham home to the port of Folkestone in Kent and picked up the tobacco, which they then intended to pass on to a man in Plymouth for distribution.
He gave his wife sentences amounting to nine months, but suspended the term for two years.
Worton, 54, of Oldbury in Birmingham, admitted two charges of harbouring or dealing in prohibited goods in October 2007.
His wife, aged 53, denied the offences but was convicted after a trial.
The charges relate to the 625kgs of Golden Virginia, and also 10kgs of Cutter's Choice tobacco which was found in their home.
Judge Gilbert told Worton that he rejected his story that he was acting only as a courier. He added: "You were stopped in a van on the A38 which was so full of tobacco that it was down on its axles."
Philip Brunt, defending the couple, said: "I would question what custody would do for Mr Worton, his family and the public."
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by Keith, Eggbuckland
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 10:32PM
“Remember folks Comrade Browns coffers are pretty low at the moment and will be getting lower, this coupled with even more out goings make this one of the most serious crimes you can get - Tax evasion or avoidance, never mind all the money wasted on daft ideas they have, Tax¿.”
by Arnie Daffag, Brussels
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 9:52PM
“Eric I couldn't agree more...and they all speak English behind our backs you know....”
by eric, stoke
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 9:49PM
“Free the A38 ONE .... !!!!!!!”
by eric, stoke
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 9:47PM
“arnie ... the thing is .. all them foriegners arent stupid like us english and let us be governed by scots etc.... why should they do us any favours ? and till the english wake up and start realising it aint going to get better ...”
by Arnie Daffag, Brussels
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 8:50PM
“Maybe I just I'm just missing the point, but I thought the whole point of the EU was to harmonise policies on trade...so why on earth is there still such a thing as duty free? Surely the price of tobacco should be the same in Dover as it is in St Malo.”
by viv moore, hoppers crossing australia
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 8:39PM
“Holy smoke!
Merry Christmas everyone in Plymouth.”
by Mick, Barbican
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 7:07PM
“Quote-"Philip Brunt, defending the couple, said: "I would question what custody would do for Mr Worton, his family and the public"-unquote
He could set up as a tobacco baron inside and make a mint..”
by Lt Cdr Granby Gates, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 4:28PM
“So a feller who brings back some tobacco without paying duty, (And let's face it have you seen the price of cigarettes?), falls very foul of the law, the hardened nasty criminal. Mr Brown who hasn't paid into the armed forces since his party was elected walks free. Something not right here. And I'm sure that anyone who disagrees with my choice of non funding, can name an area dear to their heart just as starved of cash quite easily.”
by Steve, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 4:25PM
“Thanks Dave.. I didnt think I was imagining it.”
by Jo, Plymouth
Tuesday, December 23 2008, 2:10PM
“Can't escape paying import tax on things like this otherwise our Gordon the saver of the world won't have any money to bail out Jaguar and his other favorite charities!!!”