ROBERT Stones' luggage caught the eye of customs officials when he landed at Gatwick Airport.

For the 41-year-old's cases were bulging with 18,000 cigarettes, a court was told.

Yesterday, a judge was told that it was the fourth time Stones had been caught at the London airport - with a total of 69,000 cigarettes equating to unpaid duty of £9,409.

Stones, of Galt Road, Thornley, County Durham, was jailed for six months after he admitted four charges of evading duty.

Simon Taylor, prosecuting, told Croyden Crown Court that Stones was arrested after flying in from Palma last October.

"His baggage was crammed with cigarettes," said Mr Taylor.

Dorman O'Gowan, defending, said that Stones, a former miner, had been made redundant and had been forced to turn down an offer of a job with a haulage firm because of the court proceedings.