A MAN who helped smuggle nearly nine million counterfeit cigarettes into the country using a legitimate clothing business as cover has been jailed for four years.

Malcolm Noble was working at South Shields-based wholesale clothing firm Visage Imports when he became involved in the scam in November 2003.

The tobacco - which cost taxpayers more than £1.4m in lost duty and VAT - had arrived at a dock in South Shields from Rotterdam along with some clothing.

From there, it was sent to a Leicester warehouse where it was discovered by a member of staff as the shipment of cigarettes was being unloaded.

Noble, 52, of Highgrove, West Denton, Newcastle, a former import manager, pleaded guilty to being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of duty.

A second similar count he denied was being left on file.

The prosecution followed an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs.

At Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, Judge Beatrice Bolton sentenced Noble to four years behind bars and warned of the dangers of imported fake cigarettes.

The judge told him: "Everyone knows and ought to know that counterfeit cigarettes present an added danger to the public in addition to the ordinary carcinogenic dangers.

"It is well known by all they contain other impurities which in themselves are harmful to those who smoke them.

"The reality is those who smoke them don't realise they are counterfeit."

Noble pleaded guilty on the basis he knew the cigarettes were being illegally imported but had no idea of the size of the shipment.

He told police he was paid £2,000 for his involvement.

After the hearing, David Odd, head of investigations at HM Revenue and Customs, said: "Today's result shows how seriously this crime is taken.

"People often think that cigarette smuggling is a harmless crime but they should realise that for criminals such as Malcolm Noble, smuggling can mean big business and big profits.

"Noble abused his position as imports manager and it was his intention to rob the public purse of millions, money which could have gone into vital public services."