A FRAUDSTER who set up a home with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom in a unit on an industrial estate so he could distribute illicit cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol has been jailed for more than two years.

Rolex-wearing Jaafar Mousa Mohammad Jaafar, of Adams Terrace, Consett, lived for three years on the site in Gateshead, despite owning a home in County Durham and land in Northumberland.

The 64-year-old was caretaker and distributor for the scam, and when customs officers searched the unit on Clockmill Road in December 2013, they seized over 1.5 million cigarettes, three tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco and 18,000 litres of beer, wine and spirits.

The goods were worth £946,623 in unpaid duty and VAT.

After Jaafar was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court, Diane Donnelly, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), said: "This was a very elaborate attempt to hide contraband.

"Jaafar went to unusual lengths to conceal his criminality, but ultimately he fell short."

During the search, officers discovered the adjoining bunker room which contained a double bed, wardrobe, kitchen and bathroom - complete with shower.

Jaafar, who was not present for the raid, was arrested the following day.

In interviews he told officers that nothing in the unit belonged to him, but did admit to living in the cramped bunker - for the past three years.

His assets, including cash gifts to others, amounted to more than £500,000, HMRC said.

Jaafar admitted fraudulent evasion of excise duty on a previous occasion and Recorder Ian Harris sentenced him to two years and four months in prison.