An illegal tobacco trader has been ordered to pay £400,000 after being caught in action again by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards service within six months of receiving a two year suspended prison sentence, sending a strong signal of support to law-abiding convenience store owners in the region.
Michael Addison, 65, of Portland Place, Cheltenham appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday (Sept 2) for a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Addison has been repeatedly caught in possession of fake cigarettes and smuggled hand rolling tobacco. He was caught at Kidlington market in a joint operation led by the county council’s trading standards team, the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) and Thames Valley Police, in January 2022 and then again in February 2023.
This resulted in criminal conviction and a two year suspended sentence with 300 hours of unpaid work.
He was then caught again in July 2024 and found guilty at trial in August this year. He will be sentenced for criminal offences on 7 November.
The confiscation order requires Addison to pay £400,000 within six months or face four years’ imprisonment in default.
He must also pay the council’s costs of £30,593.79.
Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Our trading standards officers and financial investigator have carried out thorough investigations to ensure the defendant did not benefit from their criminal activity.
"The outcome of this case should be a stark warning to others that the sale of illegal tobacco will not be tolerated in Oxfordshire and that robust action will be taken by our officers.”
Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council's Head of Prevention, Protection and Trading Standards, said: “This investigation began due to intelligence received from a member of the public.
Meanwhile, the menace of illegal tobacco trade continues to plague the country.