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Pensioner stashed fake
cigarettes in his house
TRADING standards officers who raided a Wigan penioner’s home found thousands of counterfeit cigarettes.
Derek Speakman, pictured right, pleaded guilty at Wigan Magistrates’ Court to possessing almost 7,000 fake Regal cigarettes at his home in Ormskirk Road, Pemberton.
The 66-year-old defendant was found with 13,000 cigarettes and more than 24 kilos of hand-rolling tobacco following a joint investigation by Wigan Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs officers.
They searched his home in November 2009 and seized the items.
Examinations found that 6,900 of the cigarettes were counterfeit Regal.
Speakman, who has no previous convictions, admitted to possessing the counterfeit cigarettes in an interview with investigating officers but denied selling them.
Scott Parker, prosecuting on behalf of Wigan Council, told the court that Speakman had made an agreement with a man in a local pub that he would store the tobacco and cigarettes at his home.
Mr Parker said the cigarettes posed a serious health risk because their contents were unknown.
Bill Swalwell, defending, said Speakman was suffering with a number of personal problems shortly before his arrest and was drinking heavily.
He would spend time in local pubs and had agreed to store the cigarettes at his house on the condition that he could keep a few boxes.
The court heard that since the incident Speakman, who is retired, had been offered support by his eight daughters as they attempted to get his life back on track.
Mr Swalwell said: “It’s really sad to see Mr Speakman before magistrates today. He has never been in front the court before.
“It has been eight months since he was interviewed, which is a considerable amount of time, and this has preyed on his mind.
“He knows he was in the wrong but he made the decision at a vulnerable time in his life. This was completely out of character.”
Magistrates ordered Speakman to pay a £100 fine and £285 costs.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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