A lorry driver has been jailed after he was caught smuggling more than seven million illegal cigarettes disguised as windows into the country.

Mariusz Gorny, 45, tried to get the fake cigarettes worth £2,161,475 in unpaid duty through the Port of Dover, an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found.

Gorny, who is from Poland was stopped by Border Force officers as he arrived from Dunkirk Ferry Port in France, in February.

His paperwork said he was transporting windows to an address in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

However, when officers searched the lorry trailer, they discovered the cigarettes packed in cardboard boxes labelled as windows.

The cigarettes were concealed under boxes containing actual windows and Gorny was arrested and 7,020,000 Richmond cigarettes were seized.

The case was passed to HMRC for investigation.

Tom Hunnisett, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “This was a shocking attempt to flood the streets with illegal cigarettes and deprive our vital public services of millions of pounds.

"Gorny thought his smuggling scam would go undetected - but he was wrong and now he is paying the price behind bars.

“Trade in illicit tobacco makes cheaper tobacco more readily available to the young and vulnerable and takes trade away from legitimate businesses.

"The duty evaded on the goods was equivalent to the annual salaries of 88 newly qualified Kent Police officers.

"Anyone with information about tobacco fraud should report it to HMRC online or contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788887."

Gorny admitted excise fraud at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday and was jailed for 40 months.

Kent Police officers receive a starting salary of £24,518, rising to £41,150 within the first seven years.

The force is currently recruiting for more police officers, to find out more click here.

To report any tax fraud to HMRC visit its website.