JOBLESS Michael Carr had thousands of pounds' worth of bootleg cigarettes and tobacco stashed at his house - but kept going to the shop to buy his usual Senior Service.

Described in court as a 'sad and lonely' man, former slipper worker Carr was allowing a friend to use his home as a warehouse.

Carr, 61, of Hardman Avenue, Rawtenstall, admitted two counts of being knowingly concerned in keeping of certain goods chargeable with duty.

He was jailed for six months at Burnley Crown Court.

Judge Raymond Bennett said it was very sad to see him in the dock and he was prepared to accept he was not a sophisticated dealer in contraband and not the sort of person usually seen in court.

Norman Lowson, prosecuting for HM Customs and Excise, said Customs officers found 13,600 cigarettes and 43.45 kilogrammes of hand-rolling tobacco at Carr's house.

He was arrested, told police he was storing the haul for somebody else and when that person had been on holiday, he had sold some of the goods himself.

Carr made no material gain from what he had done - the sum total of what he received was the odd pint of beer.

The total amount of duty evaded on the goods was £89,211.36. Dennis Watson, defending, said Carr was a sad, lonely and simple character, who had worked for 28 years in a slipper factory.

He was then made redundant and go the princely sum of £2,000.

He got married within a few weeks of receiving that, but when the money was gone, so was his wife.

The defendant was jobless for a few years, but then got work as a cleaner.

An injury forced him to give up work and he had not been in good health since then.

Mr Watson said the defendant had lived in the same house for more than 50 years and had room there.

His reward for what he did was a pint or two on a Monday night.

He had no interest in what was stored at the house whatsoever and would still go to the shop for his favourite cigarettes.

Mr Watson went on: "He is a simple man who desperately tries to do the right thing by whoever he is dealing with, and is willing to do a favour."

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