A man has pleaded guilty to selling illegal tobacco from his west Cumbrian home following an investigation by Trading Standards.

William Newton, 61, of Greenthwaite, Cleator Moor, has been given an eight-week curfew and ordered to pay £1,000 - £915 towards prosecution costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Newtown appeared before West Cumbria Magistrates' Court this week charged with possessing counterfeit cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco with intent to sell.

The goods will be destroyed.

Trading Standards visited his home and seized a large quantity of goods after receiving intelligence about what was happening.

The court case has prompted Cumbria County Council's Trading Standards to pledge that they will continue to take action against those selling such items.

Councillor Celia Tibble, cabinet member for Trading Standards, said: "These are serious criminal offences. Illegal sales of tobacco in Cumbria have a huge impact on people’s health.

"When these counterfeit products are sold, at considerably below the price of the legal product, they undermine the efforts to reduce the prevalence of smoking. They also encourage people who want to quit to maintain their habit."

She added: "We will not tolerate the illegal sales of tobacco and will continue to take firm action to stop this type of activity by using our enforcement powers against those we catch.

"Our officers routinely act on intelligence we receive, as they did in this case, so I would encourage consumers to continue to report those involved in selling illicit tobacco because their valuable information can significantly aid our investigations."

Colin Cox, director of public health at Cumbria County Council, said: "Young people are particularly at risk from the illegal trade in selling counterfeit tobacco products.

"I would encourage anyone with information about illegal tobacco sellers to report them to Trading Standards or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."