A 68-year-old man who sold cut-price cigarettes and tobacco at a Keighley pub has been jailed for nine months.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Tuesday that disabled Allan Stone would always sit in the same seat with two holdalls containing the goods.

But undercover Customs officers found that he was defrauding the Government because excise duty had not been paid on the goods, prosecutor Nadim Bashir told the court.

Stone, of Thornhill Avenue, Keighley, pleaded not guilty to charges of being concerned in the carrying, keeping and dealing of dutiable goods with intent to defraud. But he was convicted by a jury on Wednesday.

The jury was told that Stone would get a lift every Friday lunchtime to the Market Arms pub, which is in Market Street, Keighley.

"He would be there, like clockwork, armed with two black holdalls," said Mr Bashir. "He would pick the same seat and from the holdalls he would do a brisk trade in cigarettes and rolling tobacco."

Undercover Customs men went to the pub in September last year, posing as customers, and made test purchases from him.

He was arrested the following month, when his holdalls were found to contain 3,600 cigarettes and 2.25kgs of tobacco.

His home was searched and 13,000 cigarettes and 57kgs of tobacco was recovered.

During interview, Stone refused to name his suppliers but said he knew the items had come from abroad. He claimed he thought the price he paid for them included duty.

Giving evidence in court, Stone insisted he did not know what was meant by excise duty. "Even when they explained it to me I still didn't understand it," he said. "When I bought the cigarettes and tobacco I thought that everything that had to be paid had been paid.

"I was doing family and friends a favour. If I had cigarettes and tobacco left in the bags anyone could have them."

Asked why he refused to name his suppliers, Stone replied: "That's the English way, isn't it? You don't split on your mates."

He admitted selling 200 cigarettes for £21, compared to around £26 in the shops and 50 gramme pouches of tobacco for £3, compared to £7 or even £8.50 in the shops.

"I was not out to make a profit," he said. "As long as I got 200 cigs or a pack of tobacco out of it I was satisfied."

After his conviction, Stone's barrister Stephen Wood urged Recorder Christopher Knox to consider suspending any prison sentence because of his poor health and previous good character.

"If it has to be custody the punishment imparted upon this disabled, ill man by a sentence of imprisonment will be massive," he added.

Mr Wood said Stone's case could be distinguished from that of an organised and professional gang who made huge profits out of the smuggling trade.

Recorder Knox told Stone that the offences had to result in custody but as a gesture of mercy he had imposed the least possible sentence.

"This is taxpayers' money which is being stolen from the Exchequer just as simply as if it was being taken at the point of a gun," he said.

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