Trucker smuggled 3.4m cigs

A TRUCKER who tried to smuggle millions of cigarettes through North Wales to cheat the Treasury of £953,000 has been jailed for 14 months.

James Francis O’Reilly’s lorry was stopped and searched as he arrived in Holyhead on a ferry from Ireland on October 15.

The 67-year-old had been due to stand trial last month but changed his plea just before the jury were selected.

Judge Huw Rees told him at Caernarfon Crown Court on Monday: “You have been extremely foolish.”

Prosecutor Sion ap Mihangel said the trailer was found to contain pallets. He added: “The labelling stated the items on the pallets were electrical items, but when opened, were found to contain cigarettes.”

It was estimated there were 3.4m cigarettes.

“He was arrested and during interview denied all knowledge of the cigarettes,” said Mr ap Mihangel.

O’Reilly told officers he had been paid £500 to drive the lorry from Ireland on behalf of the owner, and had been doing so for about 18 months.

Owen Edwards, defending, urged the judge to take O’Reilly’s age, guilty plea and previous good character into account.

“He is very anxious to rebuild his life. He can’t afford to stop working and wants to do so to provide for himself and his family,” said Mr Edwards.

He added O’Reilly, of Poets Road, Highbury, London, accepted he was guilty and felt “significant resentment” towards those behind the cigarettes.