Six men deny cigarette smuggling

The men have been bailed to appear at Bristol Crown Court

Six men have denied smuggling 853,000 cigarettes into the country to avoid paying thousands of pounds in tax.

The six, all of whom are from Gloucestershire, are accused of smuggling the cigarettes between 1 May and 6 September 2003.

At Gloucester Crown Court the six all pleaded not guilty to conspiring to evade paying duty on tobacco.

They also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of knowingly evading paying tax on the cigarettes.

The accused are: Angelo Godlington, 43, of The Willows, Quedgeley, Gloucester; Steven Woodward, 32, of Allastone Road, Lydney, Gloucestershire; Andrew Smith, 37, of the same address; Craig Warren, 32, of The Fields, Tewkesbury Road, Twigworth; David Johns, 33, of Winsley Road, Matsun, Gloucester; Richard Lee, 48, of Windyridge, Clarks Lane, Blakeney.

They were bailed to appear at Bristol Crown Court on 4 June, when a High Court judge will decide if the six-week trial will be heard at Bristol or Worcester Crown Court.