TWO servicemen from the North-East have been jailed for their part in a smuggling ring which brought an estimated seven million cigarettes into the country on military flights.
Senior Aircraftman Paul Garbutt, of Avon Grove, Billingham, near Stockton, and Corporal Stuart Helens, 31, formerly of Sunderland, but now living in Wiltshire, admitted being part of a gang that brought tobacco into RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, and RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire.
Sergeant Stuart Walker, of Loggon Road, Basingstoke, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to cheat the public purse.
Civilians Lisa Harrison, 36, Alison McCabe, 45, and Christopher Garbutt, 26 - Paul Garbutt's brother - also owned up to being part of the scam between late 2008 and May 2009.
The cigarettes were brought to the North-East and sold without paying customs duty.
The three servicemen pocketed up to £30,000 each before the swindle was rumbled, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Full story in tomorrow's Northern Echo
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article