subject: The Captain Of A Popular Football Club Is In Jail Because Of Counterfeit Cigarettes. [print this page] The captain of a popular football club who took part in one of the country's biggest cigarette smuggling crimes was jailed for six years yesterday.
Guy Simpson, who used to be captain executive of Southern League Premier Division side Halesowen Town, helped to organize the shipment from China loaded in two 45ft (15m) containers which held more than 22 million counterfeit tobacco productions.
The 53 years old man was arrested during a routine scan of the container at Southampton docks. They were on board the Maersk Algol which arrived in Southampton from China on December 13, 2008.
The prosecuting Tim Moores told press that the containers with counterfeit cigarettes were registered to Simpson's company BS Property Developments (North West) Ltd. In documents was written that containers hold gym balls for football players.
When Simpson heard that his containers will be scanned, he began to panic. He thought that he has done all paperwork and nothing can happen.
He said the goods were not his and belonged to a third party. He even made up the name of a man called Derek Gardner, who was supposed to be involved, but the prosecution said did not exist. When he was asked about the cigarettes he said that it not belongs to him. Also Simpson made a name of a mad called Derek Gardner, who was supposed to support transportation. But the prosecution said that invented by man does not exist.
Police found containers full of tobacco production and it took a whole day to unload them and Simpson was arrested.
Mr Moores said the businessman was involved with Halesowen Town but had ambitions to put himself forward to Premier League managers and agents.
The money from counterfeit cigarettes Simposon wanted to spend with his wife in a cruise.
In mitigation, Andrew Hallworth, said the offence was "motivated by financial difficulties" and that Simpson was to be paid only 25,000 for organising the shipment, but he didn't know how many cigarettes were in the containers.
Andrew Hallworth told to press that Simpson was to be paid only 30,000 $ for organizing carriage. Also he said that he didnt know how many tobacco productions were in the containers and all this counterfeit work was made because of financial difficulties.
He said Simpson had a "pivotal role" in the crime and the sheer scale of it was important.
The seized cigarettes were subsequently shredded and burnt at a power station to help power the national grid.
A confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act will take place in September.
"Criminals like Simpson don't care about undercutting honest retailers, depriving the UK of public funds or consider the real content of their cheap counterfeit tobacco production. Smugglers only care about profit."
