HEAVY-smoker Paul Nevin has been inundated with calls from all over the UK after he won the first stage in his battle for compensation from customs officials.

The father-of-three, of Dudley Road, Honeybourne, near Evesham, has been living a nightmare since he returned from Belgium last May.

He drove there to stock up on 3,400 cigarettes and 30 kilos of rolling tobacco, but customs officials at Dover refused to believe they were for his own use.

Mr Nevin told them he smoked about 80 roll-ups a day and his wife 20 cigarettes a day, but his cigarettes and tobacco were confiscated along with his car. Six months later, the vehicle was sold.

After a VAT and Duties Tribunal in Birmingham in May, however, three judges decided that Custom officials must reconsider their decision and given 56 days to decide whether to accept it and compensate Mr Nevin, or take the case to the High Court.

"It has been a very traumatic time since I returned from Belgium," Mr Nevin said.

Abandoned

"Customs just wouldn't listen to me, no matter how many times I told them I was a heavy smoker, and went there to save money.

"Can you imagine what it was like having everything taken from you in Dover and abandoned miles from home?

"I was interviewed under duress and treated worse than a criminal because I'd done nothing wrong. Afterwards it was so late I couldn't get a train home, so I had to stay in a hotel overnight."

He said Customs sold his Ford Granada Scorpio, which he paid £1,700 for just before setting off.

"I've been feeling very angry ever since, and now people have been contacting me from all over the country with similar tales," he added.

"They had top counsel representing them at the tribunal and I had nobody. I just stood there and told the truth.

"It's not over yet, though, if they decide to take me to the High Court. Naturally, I'm feeling rather apprehensive, but three judges at the tribunal were unanimous in finding me a credible witness, and that must be taken into account."

Large amounts

Customs and Excise press officer Mark Powell confirmed there was no limit on the amount of cigarettes and alcohol that could be bought from EU countries without paying duty, provided it could be proved that they are for the buyer's own use.

"Large amounts are likely to be investigated."

Mr Powell said Mr Nevin's case was still under review, but he would be compensated if Customs decided to accept the judges' decision.