Ex-Halesowen Town boss admits cigarette duty fraud

Simpson was in debt at the time of the offence, the court heard.

A former chief executive of a football club has admitted not paying duty on £4.5m worth of counterfeit cigarettes.

Guy Simpson, who used to be in charge of Halesowen Town in the Southern League Premier Division, pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.

The 52-year-old, of Heath Charnock, Lancashire, was charged after the Regal cigarettes were found in two cargo containers at Southampton.

Judge Patrick Hooton said he was considering all sentencing options.

Goods shredded

"You have just pleaded guilty to a serious matter," he said.

The 21,357,000 cigarettes were on board a ship which arrived from China on 13 December last year.

Simpson was in debt at the time of the offence, the court heard.

The cigarettes were seized and then shredded and burnt at a power station to help power the national grid.

The case was adjourned until 15 June and Simpson was released on bail.

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