THE captain of the country's first offshore off-license claims he has been branded a pirate and blacklisted across the globe.

Phil Berriman hit the headlines when he started selling duty-free cigarettes and alcohol from his boat, the Rich Harvest, off the coast of Hartlepool.

But now the 47-year-old has had his vessel impounded overseas, amid claims he is an international smuggler.

The sailor said he had been detained in both France and Portugal while trying to deliver a batch of mosquito repellent wipes to North Africa three weeks ago.

He believes his experiences with British customs officials has led to him being blacklisted around the world.

Speaking from his vessel, which is being detained off the Portuguese Algarve coast, Mr Berriman said: "As soon as we docked in Calais, on our way to Portugal, customs boarded the boat and ripped it apart. I don't know what they were looking for.

"Eventually, we set off for Portugal where we were picking up the delivery of repellent wipes from Thailand.

"But as soon as we tried to get ashore, the same thing happened. Apparently customs officials over there have been told my boat is top of a smuggling list, so they won't even let us into the marina.

"We have been here for three weeks and we can't get our stock back. No one will give us any explanation for what is going on.

"I haven't done anything wrong and I feel like customs are out to get me."

Mr Berriman's stock of duty-free goods was seized in Hartlepool last year by HM Customs. He has since launched a challenge to get his stock back.

A spokeswoman for HM Revenue and Customs said they were confident an impending court case would back them in their decision to confiscate Mr Berriman's goods.