A MAN who laundered in excess of £100,000 – proceeds from “extensive” cigarette smuggling activity – has been jailed for two years.

Andrew McKnight was said to be holding down a responsible job while he was engaged in a profitable criminal operation on the side over a four year period from 2012 to 2016.

It involved contraband which was imported into the UK and then distributed and re-sold.

His co-accused, Charlotte Crowe, who like McKnight admitted a single charge of converting criminal property, was involved in laundering between £15,000 and £20,000 in criminal proceeds.

McKnight, 52, of Little Ross, Thornaby, Teesside, had previously served a four month jail sentence for evading duty on imported goods, it emerged.

He begged forgiveness in a letter written to the court, but Judge Tony Briggs, sitting at Teesside Crown Court, had little sympathy and said he “knew all the risks” he was getting involved with.

He said: “This was a regular and profitable business.”

The judge said custody was inevitable and handed down a two year jail sentence to McKnight, who gestured to supporters in the public gallery as he was led down from the dock.

His fellow defendant Crowe, of High Street, Norton, near Stockton, claimed a dementia-type illness meant she had no or little memory of her involvement in the scam.

But Judge Briggs dismissed this saying he did not believe it.

The court heard how the 59-year-old Crowe had a gambling addiction and was £22,000 down on her betting activities.

Judge Briggs said as result she would do anything to feed her addiction.

In his sentencing remarks, he told Crowe: “Otherwise you have led a blameless life and I also note you have suffered a significant bereavement in recent years.”

Crowe received a 12 month prison sentence, which was immediately suspended for two years, and the judge said she should consider herself lucky that she had avoided jail.

Judge Briggs rounded on those evading duty through the smuggling and sale of illegal tobacco and cigarettes.

He said: “It is far from a victimless crime as some might say in their defence.

“It involves considerable deprivation of income to the Revenue.

“It also makes a mockery of people who are abiding by the law by selling tobacco legitimately.”