A FRAUDSTER living a "very successful" lifestyle has been imprisoned for 20 months after £33,000 of illegal tobacco was found during a raid.

Michael Wallace, aged 58, of Tyldesley Old Road, Atherton plead guilty to seven offences under the Fraud Act, The Trade Marks Act and the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations Act.

The court heard how Wallace had made a ‘very successful’ living from selling counterfeit and non-duty paid tobacco at a huge profit, often operating in Cheshire East.

Police and trading standards officers from the council, raided his Atherton home and discovered illegal tobacco products valued at more than £33,000 - they also discovered more than £22,000 in cash which was hidden in a wardrobe, chest of drawers and under a bed.

Wallace was sentenced on Monday, October 8. Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Council cabinet member in charge of community safety, said: “People who deal in illegal tobacco products are likely to encourage others, including children and young adults, to smoke and to buy them.

“More people are attempting to give up smoking, but the easy availability of cheap cigarettes, can make their habit more difficult to break.

“I would like to thank our trading standards officers and Cheshire police, for their excellent work undertaken to end this illegal operation and sending another fraudster to prison. We are determined to identify more of these types of criminals and haul them in front of the courts so they are exposed and punished.”