Steal £161,000 tax get 4 months inside

Michael Carter who gave his address as The Butchers Arms, Sowerby Bridge was arrested by Customs Officers in December 2004. Bradford Crown Court today heard that Customs officers at Felixstowe docks examined a container in December 2004 transporting cartons of plastic flowers , 999,400 cigarettes and 108kg of hand rolling tobacco were discovered. Carter was traced from the delivery address in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

After arrest and interview Carter claimed the artificial flowers came from a man in Dubai and that he was planning to sell the flowers at local markets. He denied all knowledge of the tobacco goods.

Released on bail he fled to Thailand, where he stayed until April 2006 and was arrested by Huddersfield Police . He was later charged with the fraudulent evasion of duty (est. £161,000) and pleaded guilty at Huddersfield Magistrates Court on the 9th January 2007.

The HMCR have a small selection of photographs available of this seizure, and copies are available from Michelle Potts on 0191 225 3903.

He got 8 months in prison... and will be out in 4.