A Charlton supermarket manager has been charged £4,770 after sniffer dogs found illicit tobacco inside the lining of his jacket.

Ozcan Bozkurt, who runs Bobeyi Supermarket in The Village, pleaded guilty on May 18 at Bexley Magistrates' Court to offences under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Licensing Act 2003.

The court heard how Bozkurt sold a packet of Polish cigarettes to an undercover inspector last September.

On a follow-up inspection, a sniffer dog found 17 packets of Polish Marlboro Gold cigarettes and nine packets of foreign labelled Golden Virginia tobacco in his jacket lining.

More packets of foreign labelled tobacco were found under the main shop counter.

Cllr Jackie Smith, The Royal Borough’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Environment, said: "The sale of illegal tobacco and alcohol has many damaging effects on local communities and honest business owners.

"It’s an illegal practice that dodges the taxes paid by lawful traders and brings increased health risks that can only undermine the huge work done in education and in helping people quit."

People can report the sale of illegal tobacco by contacting Greenwich Council trading on 020 8921 8223 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.