A North East driver has been ordered to pay £1,500 after being found in possession of illegal tobacco.

Durham County Council have said the man, from Gateshead, was also given an 18-month community order.

The council added the driver was pulled over by police in his Audi A3 before being found with more than 16,000 counterfeit cigarettes.

The search uncovered 16,400 cigarettes branded Richmond, a further 13,200 branded Rothmans and 6kg of hand rolling tobacco branded Turner – with checks showing these were counterfeit.

Gary Carr, our strategic regulation manager, said: “Illegal tobacco is damaging in many ways, including making it easier for children to smoke and bringing crime into our communities.

“He may have been simply passing through County Durham, but the fact he had illegal tobacco in his car when he was stopped was enough for us to take action.

“We’re delighted that the court ordered the destruction of thousands of illegal cigarettes and hope this case serves as a warning that products like this will be not be tolerated anywhere in County Durham.”

The council said checks found that the Richmond and Rothmans trademarks were being used without authorisation.

It was also found that none of the tobacco products complied with regulations on health warnings and standardised packaging.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Durham Crown Court heard the products would have been worth an estimated £8,840 on the illicit market.

“Similar products, if sold legally, would have had a value of £18,391. The court ordered the illegal tobacco be destroyed.

“Anyone with information on the sale of illegal tobacco can report it anonymously, either online at https://www.keep-it-out.co.uk/ or by phoning the illegal tobacco hotline: 0300 999 0000.”