7:20am Saturday 13th March 2010
A MAN who smuggled thousands of cigarettes into the country without paying duty has avoided jail.
Anthony Rosher, 69, admitted defrauding Revenue and Customs out of thousands of pounds on the cigarettes and rolling tobacco.
In November 2008, his home was raided and 35,000 cigarettes and 16 kilos of rolling tobacco were found, along with business records detailing his transactions.
The total duty that should have been paid was £4,383.
Rosher had been stopped from bringing cigarettes into the country on 12 occasions between January 2001 and September 2008 by Customs officers.
On each occasion, he was warned over his behaviour, but continued with his scam.
Rosher, of Sudbury Avenue, Canvey, pleaded guilty to one count of being knowingly involved in the evasion of duty on imported goods, namely cigarettes and rolling tobacco.
A second count, relating to the evasion of duty on imported alcohol, was ordered to lie on file.
At Southend Crown Court, he was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Rosher must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work and was ordered pay £600 in costs.
A proceeds of crime hearing relating to Rosher’s activities has been scheduled for the week beginning June 7.
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