Cigarette plot woman sentenced

A WOMAN from Wombwell has been given a suspended prison sentence for her role in a counterfeit cigarette operatio

Jennifer Saunders (37) was also given a night-time curfew for her part in the fake fags scam, which was worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Saunders, of Little Stubbing, was sentenced at Doncaster Crown Court last Friday (16), along with three others from Barnsley.

They were arrested after a lengthy enquiry by South Yorkshire Police’s money laundering investigation team.

Operation Liquidate saw more than 2.1 million cigarettes seized by officers. Some were counterfeit and others were smuggled from the Baltic region.

The cigarettes—purporting to be Jin Lings, Raquel, Super Kings and GB brands—fetched between £20 and £30 for a sleeve of 200 on the streets.

Police began investigating two years ago and five people were arrested following a series of lunchtime raids in November 2008.

Worsbrough Dale residents Darren Remmington (45), of Yews Lane, Danny Dougherty (45), of Yews Avenue, and his sister-in-law Julie Dougherty (54), of High Street, later admitted a number of offences including possession of illegally-obtained cash.

Saunders and Noreen Turner (64) faced charges about the the cigs, having £14,030 contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act and intending to supply a Class A drug.

They were convicted after a three-week trial. Saunders was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years and a 7pm to 7am curfew for six months.

Turner, of Hill Crest, Hoyland, was also found guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition.

She was given a conditional discharge for the firearms offence, in addition to a three-month suspended sentence and a four-month curfew from 7pm to 7am.

Remmington was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail. Julie Dougherty received a three-month curfew from 7pm-7am.

Confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act have begun. Danny Dougherty will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.

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