CRIMINAL proceedings against a Barnoldswick man said to have stashed bootleg tobacco and alcohol at his home have been dropped.

Raymond Portman, 46, of Beech Street, Barnoldswick, was cleared of the alleged offences after a Court was told it was impossible to prove the goods belonged to him and not his elderly mother, who also lived at the house.

A prosecutor from HM Customs and Excise told Burnley Crown Court there was no way to prove to a jury that the goods definitely belonged to Portman, and in those circumstances he would offer no evidence against him.

Assistant Recorder David Hernandez agreed there was insufficient evidence to present to a jury and discharged Portman from the dock.

Mr Hernandez recorded "not guilty" verdicts on three allegations of being knowingly concerned in the keeping of dutiable goods with intent to defraud.

The allegations were said to involve a total of 15,000 cigarettes, more than 14 kilogrammes of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 52 litres of spirits, with the offences allegedly committed between last October and November.

Portman had consistently denied the offences.

The court was told that last October, Customs and Excise officers saw a young woman go into the house on Beech Street with some bank notes in her hand.

She came out a short time later without the money but with what turned out to be tobacco.

She told the officers she had bought it from the lady who lived at the house and, when questioned, the defendant's mother admitted she had sold tobacco and said she did it for her son.

Mrs Portman pointed out there were 14,000 cigarettes and nearly 15 kilogrammes of tobacco in the house. She said she would be speaking to her son later.

The officers contacted a phone number they were given but Portman declined to go to the house at the officers' request.

Some days later he surrendered himself in the company of his solicitor. He was interviewed, made no comment and said nothing incriminating. A smaller quantity of tobacco and cigarettes were later found at the house.

The prosecutor said there was no way he could ask a jury to say beyond reasonable doubt that the goods belonged to Portman and not his mother. There was no evidence on which a jury could properly and professionally be invited to convict.

He added that the mother had not been charged, perhaps regrettably, although she had admitted selling to the young woman.

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