North East family gang smuggling £750,000 of tobacco sentenced

Eight of the ten person gang responsible for illegal tobacco sales in the North East. Credit: HMRC

A gang of North East smugglers, including four members of the same family, has been sentenced today after their £750,000 tobacco smuggling ring was stopped by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The gang of 10, led by Michael Linney from South Shields, was caught out when HMRC officers intercepted parcels containing illegal tobacco, which were being delivered to addresses across South Tyneside.

Also involved were: Michael Linney's wife, Victoria Linney, his daughter, Kirsten Jane Linney, Grant Smith, Justin Sheriff, Glenn Paul Chrisp, Leonard Clouston, Lee Ellison, and Paul Anthony Lowery, all from South Shields, as well as Michael Linney's son, Kris Michael Linney, from Jarrow.

An investigation discovered that the gang had been travelling in groups on organised tobacco buying trips. They then mailed the illegal tobacco back home using courier services and made considerable profit selling them on in the North East.

The gang travelled extensively between 2010 and 2012, visiting countries such as Belgium and Germany often buying more than £30,000 worth of duty free cigarettes and tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco.

All 10 were arrested in early morning raids in October 2012 and were later charged with conspiracy to fraudulently evade excise duty.

After sifting through data, phone records, travel receipts and bank statements, HMRC investigators found that throughout the fraud the gang had booked around 470 plane tickets and spent more than £500,000 buying tobacco goods.

The gang pleaded guilty to the charges and were sentenced today by His Honour Recorder Lowe at Newcastle Crown Court today.

The ten received the following sentences:

  • Michael Keith Linney of Mill Dam, South Shields - three years in prison

  • Victoria Linney of Mill Dam, South Shields - 200 hours of unpaid work

  • Kris Michael Linney of Albert Road, Jarrow - nine months in prison suspended for 12 months and 300 hours of unpaid work

  • Kirsten Jane Linney of High Meadow, South Shields - 12 months in prison suspended for 12 months, a 12 month supervision order and 200 hours of unpaid work

  • Glenn Paul Chrisp of Pear Tree Mews, Sunderland - 12 months in prison.

  • Justin Sheriff of Bisley Drive, South Shields - 12 months in prison suspended for 12 months and 300 hours of unpaid work.

  • Grant Philip Smith of Grosvenor Road, South Shields - 21 months in prison.

  • Leonard Clouston of Moreland Road, South Shields - 16 months in prison.

  • Lee Ellison Copely Avenue, South Shields - 12 months in prison suspended for 12 months, a 12 month supervision order and a 12 month curfew between the hours of 19:00pm and 07:00am.

  • Paul Anthony Lowery of Malbrough Street North, South Shields - nine months in prison suspended for 12 months, a 12 month supervision order and 200 hours of unpaid work.