A UKRAINIAN man caught trying to smuggle thousands of cigarettes into the country has been jailed.

However, Vjataseslav Gerassimisuk, 27, who lives in Estonia, was released yesterday as he had already served half of his sentence.

Magistrates at Newton Aycliffe court yesterday heard how Gerassimisuk was caught at Durham Tees Valley Airport on Saturday with 35,440 king size cigarettes in his luggage.

He had travelled via London Heathrow from St Petersburg and had been due to land at Leeds-Bradford airport, but his flight had been diverted.

He was stopped by customs and excise officers as he passed through the Nothing to Declare aisle with no luggage.

The court heard how he initially denied having any baggage, but luggage was found on the carousel with his name on.

He admitted owning them and the cigarettes were found inside. It was estimated the total amount of duty payable was £5,995.29.

Gerassimisuk, who represented himself and admitted failing to pay the duty on the cigarettes, asked magistrates not to jail him.

It was the second time this year he had been caught trying to smuggle cigarettes into the country. Last time, he was given a warning after being caught with about 45,000 cigarettes in June.

Gerassimisuk was sentenced to six days in custody.

However, as he had already spent three days in police cells he was released.