Air stewardess in court over cigarette smuggling
03.07.09
Hiding behind an airline job and special airport clearance, a 'sneaky stewardess' carried out a lucrative cigarette smuggling scam at Newcastle Airport, the Chronicle reports. With her air stewardess uniform and official luggage, Wendy Rutterford went unnoticed as she passed through the airport avoiding duty on thousands of pounds-worth of cigarettes. But her tobacco trafficking 'went up in smoke' when shop staff spotted her regularly bulk-buying duty free goods, the newspaper reports.
Customs officers swooped to arrest 37-year-old when she arrived back at Newcastle Airport from Norway and she was found with 3000 cigarettes inside her luggage. Background checks revealed Ms Rutterford, of Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, made a series of purchases over a 5 month period as she flew in and out of Newcastle with Eastern Airways, smuggling more than 6000 cigarettes and cheating the taxman out of nearly £1300.
She appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, where she admitted three counts of fraudulently evading excise duty. The court heard Ms Rutterford lost her job with Eastern Airways, but had found work at Gatwick as senior cabin crew with Viking Airlines. She will now lose that job as a result of the conviction, as she will not be granted an airside pass.
Lewis Pearson, defending, said the cigarettes were for personal use. Ms Rutterford was given a 12 month community order, 150 hours’ community service and she has to repay tax evaded plus prosecution costs of £100.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book a newcastle airport hotel or newcastle airport car park at the lowest price click on these links to newcastle airport car parking and newcastle airport hotel price comparison pages.
