A reputable gym owner, who was found with over seven million illegally smuggled cigarettes, evading more than £2m in duty, has been sent to prison. Neil Conlon, 64, was a respected member of the community and seen as a "role model".

However, he resorted to illegal importation of non-UK duty paid tobacco products to make ends meet, which "spiralled out of control", according to court proceedings. When police visited his Forest Hall, North Tyneside home, they discovered £443,000 in cash hidden in various locations.

Conlon had smuggled the cigarettes into the UK with assistance from contacts in Eastern Europe. His downfall is now complete after being sentenced to two years and eight months at Newcastle Crown Court.

In July 2018, HMRC officers attended a self-storage site in Killingworth, N

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