A man who dodged more than £4,000 of duty on alcohol and tobacco has escaped jail.

Robert John Self, 41, of Stagden Cross, Basildon, admitted two charges of dealing in smuggled alcohol and tobacco, supplied by a man he met through his CB radio.

A further two offences were taken into consideration.

He escaped a jail term after Judge Zoe Smith heard he had to care for his sick wife.

Nicki McLaren, prosecuting, said police searched Self's home in November 1998 and found 1,400 cigarettes, 3.2kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 43.8 litres of spirits, worth a total of £744.81 in duty, cash and an order list of names.

When interviewed by police, Self said he had heard a man known as John trying to sell cheap tobacco and alcohol over his CB radio.

He had contacted him and began to take delivery of goods, sell them on to friends and take a percentage of the profits, making about £30 to £40 a month.

The two offences taken into consideration invol-ved 26.8kg of tobacco, 141 litres of spirits, worth £3,892.96 in duty, representing the goods Self sold in the year before he was caught.

Rene Wong, in mitigation, said Self had been given glowing references by friends and neighbours, and described the offence as "stupid". Self was remorseful, and had found the year waiting for the case to come to court very stressful, he said.

He was sentenced to 120 hours' community service.

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