A DARLINGTON man who ran an illegal fuel laundering plant and evaded more than £56,000 in duty will have to carry out unpaid work after avoiding a jail sentence.

When officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) visited the home-made fuel laundering facility in Crook, in County Durham, they also found more than £10,000 in cash hidden in Pringles crisp tubes.

The operation on an industrial site in the town was carried out by HMRC officers, with assistance from Durham County Council, in 2018.

Brian Simpson, of Grainger Street, Darlington, had the keys to the storage building and was living in a caravan on the site.

He was arrested and HMRC officers seized the fuel laundering equipment along with 1,700 litres of fuel, and more than £10,000 in cash.

Mobile phone evidence showed the 48-year-old had intentionally misled customers to believe he was selling legitimate branded fuel.

Investigations revealed he evaded £56,991 in Excise Duty between August 2015 and October 2018.

He admitted excise fraud and associated money laundering offences, as well as fly tipping offences, at Teesside Crown Court on April 14.

On Tuesday, he appeared at the same court and was sentenced to 21 months in jail, suspended for two years.

Simpson was also told to carry out 100 hours unpaid work within 24 months.

HMRC described the set up as "sophisticated" and said the production of illegal fuel was dangerous.

Caroline Austin, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “The production and trade of illicit fuel is a serious crime.

"It is dangerous, harmful to the environment, can be damaging to vehicle engines, and steals money from public services such as hospitals and schools.

"I would urge anyone with information about the production or trade of laundered fuel to contact us online or call our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”