AN Ealing pensioner, who fled to Thailand almost five years ago to escape punishment for selling illegal tobacco and Viagra-type pills, is back behind bars.
Brian Hipwood, 72, of Hanger Vale Lane, was arrested by HMRC officers at Gatwick in July, before he boarded a flight to Belfast.
Hipwood was jailed in March 2013 for 15 months for excise fraud and selling unlicensed male enhancement supplements.
Soon after his release from prison, in June 2014, he was arrested for identical offences but fled to Thailand before a court hearing.
A warrant was issued for his arrest and a confiscation order for £600,000 was granted in his absence. He returned to the UK and was arrested as he tried to get back to Thailand via Belfast.
Hipwood was jailed for five years in July this year for failure to pay the confiscation order and today (13) he was given a 22-month sentence for selling the illegal tobacco and tablets.
It will run concurrent to the five-year sentence.
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