A couple who smuggled hoards of illicit cigarettes into Whitstable and other towns in the South East have been sentenced to time behind bars - but they remain on the run.

Sergey Pankov, 48, and Ecaterina Dudorenco, 38, of the seaside town, were accused of not paying £211,171 duty on 600,000 cigarettes.

An investigation by HM Revenue and Customs discovered the pair were associated with the seizure of illegal tobacco found at seven different storage units and at their home address.

The storage units used as smuggling dens where in Ilford, Dagenham, Chingford, Croydon, Bermondsey, Crayford, and Stratford.

Analysis of their phones showed photographs of some of the same cigarette brands and serial number as those seized.

The couple were arrested at a storage unit in Crayford on in February last year before failing to show up at Southwark Crown Court this January.

They were then sentenced in their absence this month, with Pankov and Dudorenco both ordered to spend two-and-a-half years in prison, if they get caught.

Simon Kiefer, assistant director at HMRC's fraud investigation service, said: “They are guilty and must pay the price for their crime. We will seek to track them down to face justice.

“Tobacco smuggling undermines legitimate businesses who play by the rules and costs the UK around £2.5 billion a year, money that could be used to fund vital public services.

“We encourage anyone with information about the whereabouts of Pankov and Dudorenco, or regarding the smuggling, storage or sale of illegal tobacco to report it to HMRC online, or contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

When passing the sentence for the illusive pair, the judge said their plan was clearly well thought through.

He said: “The defendants were convicted by a jury on absolutely overwhelming evidence.

"I am not sentencing them for absenting themselves. This was extremely sophisticated and highly planned offending and the defendants were equally involved in all aspects of offending.”

Cash totalling £19,544.23 and €535 seized from Pankov was forfeited under the Proceeds of Crime Act.