Customs seize 'booze boat' goods

The Cornish Maiden is moored 12 miles off Hartlepool

Customs officials have seized a small amount of alcohol and tobacco from a customer who visited Britain's first offshore off-licence.

The customer visited the Cornish Maiden, moored in international waters off Hartlepool, on Monday.

One of the off-licence's operators, Phil Berriman from Stockton, has accused customs of intimidation.

A spokesman for HM Customs and Excise said anyone who buys goods from the boat is liable to pay duty.

Mr Berriman and Trevor Lyons from Newcastle-under-Lyme are selling cut-price alcohol and cigarettes 12 miles off Hartlepool.

They have a multi-million pound cruiser running around after people with 200 cigarettes and a bottle of vodka Phil Berriman

The pair said duty has already been paid on the goods they bought abroad.

Mr Berriman claimed customs were putting off potential customers by closely patrolling the area around the Cornish Maiden in a large "cutter".

He said: "People have to run a gauntlet to get out there.

"Customs are intimidating people. That boat should be protecting us against terrorists in the English Channel and finding hard drugs.

"They have a multi-million pound cruiser which costs thousands in fuel every day and they are running around after people with 200 cigarettes and a bottle of vodka.

"The decision to do this must be coming from above, from people who are keeping our duty artificially high."

Customs officials say they will continue to monitor the situation and anyone visiting the boat must pay duty.