MAGISTRATES gave a stern warning to holidaymakers yesterday after jailing a North-East man who tried to smuggle 28,000 cigarettes into the UK.

Colin Baxter, 27, was cautioned by customs officials after he was stopped at Teesside Airport last November with 21,900 cigarettes. He told them that he did not understand the regulations.

He was arrested at the same airport three months later with another stash of tobacco.

Andy Reid, of Customs and Excise, told Darlington magistrates that Baxter had claimed to have no luggage when he flew in from the Canary Islands on February 17.

However, two suitcases later identified as belonging to him were found to contain cigarettes, one with 13,800 Lambert and Butler and another with 11,400 Lambert and Butler, and 2,800 Desert Gold.

Yesterday, Baxter, of Lambton Centre, Washington, Wearside, admitted intending to fraudulently evade about £4,500 worth of duty on the cigarettes.

He was jailed for three months and told by magistrates that his sentence was designed to act as a deterrent to him and others.

Geoff Pearson, defending, told the court that Baxter was full of remorse.

Magistrates' chairman Patricia Wilson told Baxter: "This type of offence has a severe impact on UK retailers and is becoming increasingly prevalent."