A 50 year-old Derry man caught with 21,000 illegal cigarettes told police he smoked 100 a day.

Kevin MacCloskey, from Lecky Road, was stopped by cops while driving a van along Strand Road on July 27, 2012.

During a search of the van, 21,760 cigarettes and 0.1kg of hand rolling tobacco were found, along with a large amount of cash.

MacCloskey was charged with evading payment of duty for the cigarettes and tobacco.

He said he had bought the cigarettes off a person at a garage in Killea and they were for his personal use because he smoked 100 cigarettes a day.

However, a police officer told Derry Magistrates Court today that no cigarette lighter was in the van.

A defence solicitor said MacCloskey had been a small shopkeeper who had difficulties keeping up with large stores.

The court was told that he no longer owns the shop.

He was given a three month jail sentence which was suspended for 12 months.

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