A STUDENT was caught by CCTV operators sexually assaulting a drunken girl passed out in the street. Kesupile K Kesupile, 18, targeted the girl as she lay drunk in the road in Bond Street, Hull city centre.

He was seen by CCTV operators trying to wake the 17-year-old schoolgirl but then lifted the unconscious girl's dress to assault her.

Kesupile, of Oakfield Court, Cottingham, believed no one was watching him when the incident happened at 2.37am on July 12. But shocked CCTV operators called the police and he was arrested at the scene.

When the girl came to, she asked police not to arrest him because she had not realised what he had done to her.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told Kesupile: "It is filthy, appalling conduct and you deserve to go to prison for taking advantage of an unconscious, drunken girl."

Kesupile, due to start university next week, pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to sexual assault.

Prosecutor Jharna Jobes said: "They were both in a taxi and it stopped in Bond Street and there was an argument over the fare between the taxi driver and the defendant. The girl had too much to drink and was in the back and did not take part in the argument.

"The defendant ran off and returned and paid the driver and he helped the complainant out of the taxi. The complainant was clearly very, very drunk and she could not stand up. The defendant was lying by her with his head near to her face. He was trying to wake her up and hit her face."

Kesupile then sexually assaulted her twice. On his arrest, Kesupile told the police he was "horrified" by his actions and has written a letter of apology to the victim.

Judge Richardson QC has given him a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He told Kesupile: "She was inebriated to the point where she could not stand up. You got out of the taxi and, while she was on the pavement, seemingly unconscious, you took advantage of her.

"At first, you were trying to help her but then you took advantage of her. Your conduct can only be described as appalling. You deserve to be punished and to go to prison.

"One can only imagine how degraded she must have felt when she heard about what you had done when she was violated in that filthy way by you.

"You must sign the Sex Offenders' Register and that will remind you not to behave like this ever again."

He has been ordered to sign the sex Offenders' Register for seven years.

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AFTER 13 years as man and boy at the Bradford Bulls, Jamie Langley knew finding a new club for 2014 was not something to be rushed. Finding a new club to hopefully see out a highly successful career in style, the 29-year-old and his manager fielded "a number of offers" in Super League.

But one stood out as the clear front-runner for the former Grand Final winner and two-time World Club champion.

"To be honest, when I came to Hull KR and sat down to speak to coach Craig Sandercock, it felt like the right place for me," Langley told the Mail. "I was very impressed with Craig, his enthusiasm for the job, his vision of where he wanted to take the club, and his meticulous attention to detail.

"He immediately struck me as my kind of coach, and we clicked straight away. I also did my research and spoke to players who have played under Craig and all spoke highly of him. It just felt right and, in my opinion, Hull KR are a club on the up."

Rovers may be progressing, but it has been steady progress, played out against a backdrop of off-field concerns in 2013. Uncertainty not only over Sandercock's future, but also that of the club itself, did little to promote the club to potential new signings. Indeed, it was cited by one big star, Mickey Paea, as his reason for departing to pastures new and joining Hull FC.

But, with new directors on board, the new North Stand almost complete and ready to open in the World Cup, and some strong recruitment already complete for 2014, Langley is confident he is joining the Robins at an exciting time.

"I think the club has that stability off the field now and has the potential to really push on. It is a club on the rise." Langley added. "They have already added some high-quality players for next season.

"Michael Weyman and myself go way back to the days when he captained Australia schoolboys and I captained England. We had some great battles and he is a great addition. Neville Costigan is another no-nonsense player with great experience from the NRL and he will lead from the front and not take a backwards step. Yes, the loss of Mickey Paea was a big one, but I am certain these two will fill that void, and hopefully I can bring my experience to the table too.

"Michael Dobson is also a big loss, obviously, but in Kris Keating Rovers have brought a quality replacement in."

With a largely youthful and inexperienced squad around them, it will fall upon the likes of Langley, Weyman and Costigan to lead the way and provide a shoulder to lean on for emerging stars. That is a role the back-rower is more than happy to take on when joining up with KR for next year, and one he says he enjoys.

"I will be happy to take some of the young guys under my wing and help them improve. I thinks that's part of the job of the experienced pros," he said. "I like the coaching aspect of the game, and video analysis, and the detail of how the sport is changing. I think that is why I clicked with Craig straight away. He leaves nothing to chance."

Set to turn 30 in November, and having spent his entire career previously at the Bulls, Rovers could well be the club where Langley sees out his career. And having signed a one-year-deal, with the option of a second season should all go well, Langley insists he has plenty of top-flight rugby left in him.

"I'd like to think there are a few years left in me yet, and hopefully, if things go as planned, I could stay at Rovers for a few years," he said. "Obviously it all depends on how things go on and off the field, but my partner is finishing university and there may be an opportunity for her to work in Hull, so that could see us move over and live there rather than commuting, which will help.

"There is a good feeling about the place. The supporters are passionate and I am sure I will enjoy my rugby there. I just can't wait to throw myself at it now."

THE man in charge of delivering Orchard Park's £5.5m shopping centre says he is "not about to let it drop".

In March 2010, Chester-based developer Cityheart was appointed to build the centre on the site of the existing, ageing parade of shops off Orchard Park Road. Back in July, ward councillor Terry Geraghty said it was expected the scheme would be completed by March. Now, David Savage, Cityheart's development director, has revealed it is unlikely to be completed much before May.

He said: "We thought this would be an 'in-and-out' scheme. My son was born when we got involved in this – now he's just started school.

"It is a scheme that maybe should not have been brought to the table when it was.

"But I am not about to let it drop. We have invested a lot of money into the scheme and a lot of sweat and tears.

"We are going to deliver it and it's frustrating for us that it is taking this amount of time."

Mr Savage blamed delays on the "difficult economic climate".

But he stressed Cityheart – working with Hull City Council to deliver the scheme – had reached its target of pre-letting 75 per cent of the units, which unlocks funding enabling the next phase of the scheme to go ahead.

An undisclosed "anchor" unit has been secured, said Mr Savage.

Mr Savage said he could understand residents' frustrations, but said the scheme was taking place at a time when prime retail space was cheaply priced.

He said: "When retailers can find premises in the city centre at similar prices to those they are being offered in Orchard Park, or any other out-of-town shopping area for that matter, the preference will be the city centre, because that's where the bigger catchment area will be.

"That said, I am confident this centre will be a success.

"More and more people appear to be switching to local shopping."

Mr Savage said he expected demolition work would begin shortly, but was unable to name a date as it was "subject to lawyers getting back to us".

He added: "We have had delays getting on to site, but we are in the process of doing asbestos testing prior to demolition. This involves drilling into the fabric of the building and compiling a report for the contractor."

Mr Savage said Cityheart has had to honour current contracts between tenants and the local authority, which owns the current centre.

He said: "Cooplands bakery has a lease that runs until next year and they have to be kept trading in their current premises until they can be moved into their new unit.

"We also want to keep the post office open during the work as we recognise, for many people living in the area, that this is a lifeline."

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A COUPLE are lucky to be alive after their car ploughed through a lamppost and came to a halt on a roundabout after a day out in Hornsea.

Driver Darren Clifton, 43, was driving back to his home in Nottingham with his wife Kim when their Volvo C70 skidded across the A164 near Goole.

The car smashed through road signs and knocked over the lamppost before coming to a halt on the roundabout in Rawcliffe Road.

However, the couple managed to escape serious injuries and suffered only whiplash, despite the damage caused to their car.

Mr Clifton said: "If we had been in our other car, a Vectra, we could have been dead.

"I tried to put the brakes on but the car didn't respond. That was it, it just wasn't slowing down.

"I came through both signs and took the lamppost out, lifting it out of the ground."

The couple were heading home from a day out at the seaside town when they crashed.

"The car slid across the road and hit the roundabout," said Mr Clifton.

"The kerb lifted the passenger side up in the air until it stopped.

"It shattered the front wheels.

"I was shocked that we were able to walk away from it.

"The ambulance came, but neither of us were injured, just suffering from shock."

A Humberside Police spokesman said: "We were called to a single vehicle road traffic collision on Wednesday, September 18.

"The road traffic collision happened on the A164 Rawcliffe Road where the vehicle left the road and went straight over a roundabout.

"There were two people in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

"A male driver and a female passenger. Neither were reported as injured and neither needed hospital treatment."

East Riding Council has been informed of the damage caused to road signs on the roundabout after the crash.

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CITY council leader Steve Brady has called on people unhappy with funding cuts to turn the heat on the Government instead of the authority.

His plea came after union members at the authority emphatically rejected proposed changes to staff terms and conditions, including reducing overtime payments and cutting mileage allowances.

Union activists lobbied a meeting of the ruling Labour group at the weekend where councillors were briefed on the latest developments in protracted talks between the two sides.

A further briefing was given to cabinet members behind closed doors yesterday.

The council says it could save about £1.4m a year if staff agree to the changes.

Councillor Brady said: "We need a sense of realism here.

"Yes, we are doing everything possible to protect jobs and services but we can't do the impossible.

"Eighty five per cent of our budget comes from central government. When 40 per cent of that gets taken off you, difficult decisions have to be made.

"The greatest strain from all these cuts has been in the North where councils like Hull with far greater levels of deprivation have taken three or four times the financial hit of councils in the south.

"I think it's time for the Government to take a fresh look at what they are doing to cities like Hull.

"It's absolutely scandalous that local government has been hit in this way."

The authority is facing having to make £48m worth of savings over the next two years after seeing huge reductions in government funding.

Cllr Brady said: "A big issue for me is that while we have had 40 per cent of our income taken away, there are all sorts of restrictions on councils if they want to raise extra revenue themselves.

"We are not allowed to increase council tax by more than 1.9 per cent yet gas, water, electricity and train companies can push through huge price rises without anyone doing a thing about it.

"If we wanted to go beyond 1.9 per cent, we would have to have a referendum and that outcome would only last one year before we would have to do it all again the following year.

"I believe that is unfair to councils and I would urge people to make their feelings known to their MPs ahead of a debate coming up in parliament on local government.

"That's the time people need to be briefed about what is happening in Hull."

Yesterday's cabinet also confirmed support for the creation of a new council-owned leisure company.

If confirmed, it would take the cost of running venues ranging from Hull New Theatre and Hull City Hall to leisure centres and parks off the council's books.

But Andrew Reed, vice-president of the Hull Trades Union Council, said: "We fully support the staff at the council who are fighting against these cuts to their terms and conditions.

"It's a disgrace that Labour councillors who are former union officials are even thinking of attacking their own workers like this."

HULL KR have rewarded home-grown centre Liam Salter for his excellent form by handing him a three-year contract extension.

Emerging as a regular for the Robins in what has been a breakthrough season, the 20-year-old has impressed coach Craig Sandercock with his rapid development.

Although Salter still had one year remaining on his deal, having emerged through the club's academy system, he is delighted to commit his long-term future to MS3 Craven Park.

"I've grown up supporting the club and to have the opportunity to play here is a real honour for me," he said.

"The club approached me with regards to extending my deal and I had no hesitation signing it."

The contract extension means Salter, one of few players to impress in the play-off defeat at St Helens, will now be at the Robins until at least the end of the 2017 season.

And with 37 games already behind him in Super League, he is regarded as one of the brightest young prospects at the club.

"I'm probably a bit further on than where I thought I'd be in terms of my development and have played a lot more games this year than I expected to," said Salter, who scored five tries in 25 outings in 2013.

"I think I had a steady season and went okay but obviously there are areas of my game I need to work on. Now my long-term future is sorted I'll hopefully continue my improvement."

Sandercock is pleased to have tied such a key player to the east Hull club and added: "Liam has come a long way this year. We knew that he was a good, solid player and that we might get 10 games out of him. But he really exceeded all expectations this year.

"If he has a big pre-season, and works on the areas we've identified for him to improve upon, then we're really confident Liam will be a great player for this club for many years to come."

A WOMAN claims she could have been hospitalised if she had swallowed a caterpillar she found in her chicken burger.

Julie Baldwin, who is receiving treatment for cervical cancer, visited the McDonald's restaurant in Jameson Street, city centre, with her daughter Paige, 13, when she made the grim discovery.

Ms Baldwin, of Albert Avenue, west Hull, is angry with the response from McDonald's and doesn't feel the company has taken the matter seriously enough.

She said: "We both ordered a Chicken Legend Meal.

"I always go through my burger to pick out the bits I don't like and that's when I saw the big black caterpillar.

"I took it back to the counter and the female staff member was a little hysterical.

"My daughter was mortified and neither of us will be going back."

Ms Baldwin, 40, claims her hospital consultant told her swallowing the caterpillar could have had serious consequences as her immune system wouldn't have been able to cope with it.

She said: "I have started chemotherapy and I am also undergoing radiotherapy.

"My immune system is down and I could have suffered serious effects from eating the caterpillar. My consultant said I would probably have had to have been admitted to hospital.

"My body wouldn't have been able to fight the bacteria."

Ms Baldwin is now paranoid about what she eats.

She said: "I am very careful now and will only eat food that I've prepared myself.

"I go through all my food with a fine toothcomb because I can't afford to eat the wrong thing."

Ms Baldwin says she received a refund when she took the burger back initially. But she wrote to customer service to take the complaint further.

Ms Baldwin then received two £5 vouchers, but was told there were no grounds for compensation.

She said: "Obviously, compensation would be nice, but it is the way they have treated me that angers me.

"I don't feel they have taken it seriously. It could have been very bad for me.

"When they sent me the vouchers I promptly returned them.

"If I had swallowed the caterpillar they would have had a court case on their hands.

"All I want is a proper apology and for them to ensure they do everything to try to prevent this happening again."

McDonald's has confirmed it is dealing with Ms Baldwin's complaint.

A spokesman said: "We are sorry for Ms Baldwin's experience when visiting our restaurant. Food safety and product quality are our highest priority and both our restaurants and our suppliers follow rigorous standards in order to avoid imperfections."

The woman was about to get into the passenger seat of her car when a man on a pedal cycle grabbed her hand bag from her shoulder.

He then cycled off. The woman was not injured.

The black handbag and its contents were found in a nearby cycle track but the money had been removed.

The offender was a white man aged around 35. He had brown short hair, about an inch long, and was wearing a dark coloured bomber style jacket and dark jeans. He was riding a dark cycle with red on the frame.

Anyone who witnessed the theft on Saturday or who can help identify the man should call police on 101, quoting log 516 of September 21.

BAE Systems has hired its first apprentices since axing almost 900 jobs.

Five technical apprentices have started at the firm's Military Air and Information (MAI) business in Brough.

In September 2011, BAE announced a major restructuring programme, which included moving manufacturing work away from East Yorkshire, with the loss of 899 jobs.

However, orders for its Hawk trainer jet from Saudi Arabia and Oman have meant a large amount of manufacturing work has remained at the site.

Site director Dave Corfield, who started as an apprentice in 1978, said the recruitment showed company confidence in the future of the plant.

"We know the past few years have been difficult for everyone and last year we did not take on any apprentices at Brough because of the restructuring programme," he said.

"However, this year we are welcoming another group of bright young people into our workforce and it is these people who will be the future of this site and we recognise the need to invest in their future to ensure this business remains strong for decades to come."

The redundancies in 2011 meant hundreds of workers faced having to retrain in order to secure a new career.

East Riding College worked with BAE to offer training to about 150 of those employees to help them back into work.

Having had no apprentice intake last year, the new recruits are a welcome sign for the business with BAE now looking to secure more export orders.

Jack Thornton, 20, of North Ferriby, left a job as a web designer to undertake the apprenticeship.

He said: "Even though I have been into IT since a young age, engineering is something that has always influenced me. My grandfather is a university lecturer in the subject and always encouraged me to look at it.

"When I saw the apprenticeship with BAE Systems, I knew the career prospects it offered and I wanted to get involved in making some special products.

"The traditional route of college and university was always an option, but earning while you learn through an apprenticeship seems a lot better than getting £40,000 of debt at university with no guarantee of a job at the end of it."

The apprentices will spend the next 10 months training at Hull College.

They will then return to Brough for two-and-a- half years when they will work in different parts of the business.

Caroline Russell, 18, of Beverley, said she hopes the apprenticeship will finish with a job at the business.

She said: "When you look around the business at the amount of people who started as apprentices and are still working today, you can see if you work hard, you can make a great living out of this."

CITY councillors want to set up a new company to run the authority's leisure services.

Subject to final agreement, the move would represent the biggest shake-up yet in direct public services in Hull.

The remit of the proposed not-for-profit company would cover all sport and leisure activities currently provided by the council, along with operational park services and non-school catering.

Responsibility for Hull New Theatre, Hull City Hall and Hull Arena would also switch to the new company.

At a cabinet meeting yesterday, councillors also agreed to examine the option of transferring heritage services such as the museums and libraries.

If given the go-ahead, existing council staff would transfer to the new company.

Councillor Terry Geraghty, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: "If local government is going to survive in the next ten years it has got to become more businesslike in the way it operates.

"Creating this company is the only way forward to protect jobs and services to the public.

"Theatre attendances are up, the museum service is excellent and everything is starting to gel on the cultural side with things like the recent big exhibitions at the Ferens.

"By bringing all this together in one company it should also help us go for the City of Culture title in 2017."

The main appeal of creating a not-profit company as a separate legal would be a series of financial benefits currently not available to the council.

They include possible VAT exemption, business rates relief and the ability to compete for private sector work.

Overseen by a seven-strong board co councillors, the company would retain any surpluses it made to plough back into services.

A final decision is expected before Christmas.

BRAWLS in the streets, vomit on the pavement, and the odd drinker choosing to urinate in a doorway – all common sights in any city centre on a weekend night out.

But these problems are becoming a thing of the past in Hull city centre, with alcohol-related violence continuing to reduce and police claiming the area is the safest it has even been.

Just two years ago, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC criticised the "gratuitous violence" that plagues innocent people trying to enjoy a night out in Hull.

Police Sergeant Ian Goode, of the public order and licensing department, strongly disagrees and says the police are winning the battle against the drunks.

"I remember the story and totally disagreeing with it," he said.

"At the time of his comments, we had decreased violent crime and disorder by 26 per cent compared with the previous year.

"The judge was misguided in what he said. The case he heard was alcohol-related but the general picture is that we've been getting better.

"I've been with the police here for 23 years and it's the safest it's ever been in Hull city centre.

"There are problems with alcohol, there will always be problems with alcohol but, at the minute, Hull is a safe and vibrant place to visit.

"We've got to understand there is less money out there, so not as many people are going out in Hull city centre.

"But, most importantly, instead of everyone pulling in different directions, we work under the same banner – bar staff, operators, door staff, CCTV, street marshals, street angels, NHS and drug dependency agency working together to address the problems."

The Mail was invited to join Humberside Police to see the problems faced by officers on the other side of the bar on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Alcohol-related crimes can make up as much as 50 per cent of all crimes, according to Sgt Goode, and proves a big strain on police and NHS resources.

"Without a doubt, drunken behaviour is a drain on resources," he said.

"When people drink irresponsibly, somebody has to pick up the pieces and, generally, it is the police and the NHS.

"Without a doubt, the way drinking has evolved in the last ten to 15 years has put a massive strain, not just on policing but the health service and the country in general.

"No longer do people go out at 7pm at night and steadily have a few drinks and finish at 11pm.

"Now, because of the cheaper pricing of alcohol unit, they will pre-load at home, drink far too much and then they'll drop into town when they are already drunk."

At the police station, behind Sgt Goode, is a wall planner that has notes of all the events taking place in Hull city centre, along with several green and red dots.

"The green dots are on pay days and the red dots are full moons," he said.

"From my experience, when I worked in custody when a full moon is out, it does affect some people's behaviour."

Sgt Goode talks passionately about the successful campaigns and the need to keep the foot on the gas in the battle against drunks looking to cause trouble in the city centre.

Anyone drunk entering the city will be sent home and more than 115 city centre banning orders have been handed to troublemakers – more than any other city in the country.

Last weekend there were also dogs brought in to sniff out drugs. Underage children were also sent out to bars as part of a test purchase operation. And these are just a few of the campaigns under way.

But a major part of the battle is to also help the offenders change their ways and address their problems.

"People know we take a zero- tolerance approach to alcohol- related crime and disorder in the city centre," he said.

"There is no second chance. If someone comes out at 8.30pm and they're drunk and they're playing up, there are two ways that it is going to go.

"They're the same person that, at 11.30pm, is either going to be picking on someone for a fight or they are so far drunk they're going to become a victim.

"I think the major weapon that we have at the minute is the Section 27 notice from the Violent Crime Reduction Act that allows us to get to people early and prevent problems as soon as they start or if we think they are going to start.

"We can use that power to get people out of the city centre."

Anyone receiving the notice is given a red card and banned from the city centre for up to 48 hours.

"Slowly but surely, the public of Hull know they can't come into the city and act like they did in the late 1980s and early 1990s," he said.

"Overall, people are better behaved.

"I go from old police officer stories who say it was a wild west town in the late 1980s.

"Even when I joined in 1991, when the pubs shut at 11pm, at 10.30pm, we put all the patrols at the bus stop for the last bus because all hell used to break out."

The partnership approach is evident on Friday evening, with two licensing enforcement officers from Hull City Council working with the police, checking taxis and people coming into the city centre.

Within minutes of patrolling the city centre, one taxi driver is pulled over and his work is suspended for the weekend because he has two bald tyres.

Despite his early finish, the taxi driver welcomes the police checks.

He said: "I've been driving in Hull city centre for four years and I welcome these checks on taxis and the work of the police. Hull is safer.

"I'm glad they've picked up on the tyres for my safety. I am surprised, though, as I'm always checking."

He is one of 40 taxis stopped over the weekend. Twenty are found to have vehicle defects – with problems such as headlights out or brake lights out.

Two have their weekend work suspended because of bald tyres.

Taxi drivers are also given a special mobile phone number for the police on a Friday and Saturday night to report bogus taxis, fights and any crimes.

Even revellers in the new town area of Hull are quick to praise the police's work.

Katie Sansan, 21, of Anlaby Road, says she has noticed a difference and feels safer.

"There are not as many fights around Hull city centre on a Friday and Saturday evening," she said.

"I do see lots of police around and it does make me feel safer."

The police do not rest on their laurels and are constantly looking for new ideas to keep visitors to the city centre safe and troublemakers out.

"We're always trying new ideas," said Sgt Goode.

"One we are looking at, at the minute is school-leavers. Each June and July, we get a new generation of school-leavers who think that just because they've left school they can come into town after drinking at home and go straight into clubs.

"We are looking at how we can address that and let them know how they're lives can be affected.

"We are always looking ahead of the game. As soon as you stop, you start losing."

10

VILLAGERS could be forced to foot repair bills for their parish church, despite many rarely stepping foot inside the ancient building.

Three residents from Humbleton have been caught out by a 500-year land law, which states they are legally obliged to contribute towards repair costs at St Peter's Church.

Cindy Parsonage, 49, a shelf stacker at Asda in Mount Pleasant, Hull, found out she was subject to the historic "chancel repair liabilities" rule by letter from the Parochial Church Council of St Peter's – and is now desperately looking for a way out of it.

"I am terrified," she said. "It just doesn't seem fair – I don't even go to the church. Churches need work all the time. How am I going to afford that?"

The owner of Humbleton Hall Farm, Mick Wood, 55, and another resident, who did not want to be named, are also liable.

The law dates back to the reign of King Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries.

When people bought lands taken from monasteries, they became "lay rectors" and had a duty to help repair their local church.

Ms Parsonage bought her house in Fitling Road two years ago and was unaware of the law, while Mr Wood inherited the hall, which has been in his wife's family for more than 80 years.

A further 32 homes could also have been liable but the church council did not pursue them because the amount it was for was too small.

Mr Wood and his family, who have the most land, are liable for up to 50 per cent of costs.

Mr Wood said: "We feel victimised and angry. It is such an old law and one that should be quashed.

"We want to pass the house on to our children for another 100 years. Our children are the future of this village, but the church certainly won't be getting our support."

The law only came to light after Government passed legislation to abolish it.

They gave all church councils until October 13 to register properties for chancel repair liability with the land register otherwise they would not be able to make a future claim.

The roof was replaced at St Peter's Church ten years ago but no claim to the lay rectors was made because the church was unaware of the law.

A church council spokesman said: "We knew it was potentially going to upset some people. We didn't want to alienate those who support us but, at the same time, we had to follow instructions from the diocese in our duty to the church."

MORE than 87,000 cigarettes and 17,000 litres of wine have been seized by Border Force officers at ports in Hull and Immingham.

The cigarettes found in Hull were hidden inside a specially adapted fuel tank of a lorry cab on September 15.

The driver was arrested and later released without charge, although the lorry and cigarettes were seized and will be disposed of by the Border Force.

In Immingham, officers discovered the wine, which equates to almost 18,500 bottles, after becoming suspicious of a container that arrived from the Netherlands on September 11.

The paperwork was found to be false and the delivery address was fictitious.

Chris Murphy, acting assistant director for Border Force, said: "These seizures are down to the hard work of Border Force officers who foil smuggling attempts like these on a daily basis."

Additionally, more than 10,000 cigarettes were seized from a passenger at Leeds Bradford International Airport. The passenger had originally flown from China but arrived at Leeds Bradford, on September 17, on a connecting flight from Amsterdam.

If the three attempts had not been intercepted it would have cost the Treasury almost £80,000 in unpaid excise duty.

All the alcohol and tobacco seized will now be destroyed.

Mr Murphy said: "I would urge anyone tempted by cheap alcohol and tobacco to think again.

"It cheats honest traders and it's totally unregulated, so buyers have no way of knowing what they are actually getting."

Passengers travelling from outside the European Union can only bring 220 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco into the UK tax free.

During the financial year 2012-13, 487 million cigarettes and 359 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco were seized by Border Force.

Industry data on the scale of illicit and cross-border tobacco consumption in Yorkshire and the Humber indicates the retail trade missed out on £440m in sales last year.

According to industry surveys, 23 per cent of cigarettes and 45 per cent of hand rolling tobacco was either illicit or cross-border shopped last year.

This represents a tax loss to the Government of an estimated £355m.

Peter Osborne, regional manager of the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association (TMA), said: "We welcome the seizures by Border Force as this sends a clear message that tobacco smuggling will not be tolerated.

"However, due to the high level of tax on tobacco products, together with the ongoing difficult economic climate, criminals will continue to be incentivised.

"Until this cause is addressed, Border Force's task will remain challenging."