A lorry driver has been jailed for smuggling nearly 400,000 cigarettes and almost 300kg of hand-rolling tobacco.

Karoly Nemeth, who had travelled through the Port of Dover, was sentenced to 15 months on Monday.

Nemeth had been caught with 389,000 cigarettes, which would be 19,450 packets of 20, and 294 kilos of tobacco in pouches on October 10.

An investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found Nemeth, 55, of Hungary, tried to smuggle tobacco products worth £197,000 in unpaid taxes.

Border Force officers searched the vehicle Nemeth was driving as he entered the UK.

They found the illegal goods packed in cardboard boxes hidden amongst a cargo of household furniture and bikes.

Nemeth was arrested and the tobacco was seized.

The case was passed to HMRC for further investigation.

Nemeth was charged with excise fraud and pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court last Wednesday.

He was sentenced by the same court.

Information about any type of tax fraud can be reported to HMRC online

Read more: All the latest news from Dover