A pensioner accused of selling counterfeit tobacco to children has had £13,000 in cash seized by a court.
The pensioner, who walks with the aid of two crutches, had nearly £12,000 stashed in a bedroom drawer at his home and wallets with various amounts of cash in which he claimed was his spending money.
A court heard how Roger Gerrey sold the imported illicit tobacco to undercover Devon Trading Standards officers.
In June they raided his home in Lemon Place, Newton Abbot, Devon, and seized £10,000 worth of tobacco and £11,870 in cash.
Exeter magistrates court heard that Gerrey, aged 65, allegedly continued trading to adults and children in his home town and was seen by undercover officers.
His home was raided again on Thursday and £1,000 in cash seized along with £500 worth of tobacco.
Gerrey did not contest the first seizure of £11,870 but yesterday (FRI) appeared in court to say the seized cash was money given to him by family for his 65th birthday in June.
And he claimed the tobacco was brought into the country by friends he could not name and they were to be given out to visiting family members in September as Christmas presents.
The district judge ruled there were reasonable grounds for holding on to the seized cash and another hearing will be held next month.
