TWO St Helens men were among a group who have appeared in court charged with fraudulent evasion of duty.

On Wednesday, January 17, the defendants appeared before Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates' Court on the charge.

Among them were Stephen Piert, 30, of Basildon Close, Sutton Heath, and Graham Wall, 50, of St Mary's Avenue, Billinge. 

The defendants are accused of, between June 30, 2019, and April 30, 2020, conspiring together to harbour cigarettes, which were chargeable with a duty that had not been paid with intent to defraud Her Majesty of any duty payable on the goods.

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The case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court where the defendants are next due to appear on Wednesday, February 14.

Piert and Wall were granted unconditional bail until then. 

The other defendants charged with the offence are Christopher Dooley, 38, of HMP Kirkham; John Kok Wah Lee, 53, of Olive Lane, Liverpool; Anthony Linehan, 59, of HMP Thorncross; Anthony Tremarco, 74, of Keybank Road, Liverpool; David Hunter, 51, of HMP Buckley Hall; Edward Fergus, 59, of Aintree Lane, Liverpool; Ricardo Hughes, 56, of HMP Oakwood; Alex Man Kit Sung, 31, of Hopwood Close, Lowton and Mathew Kwok Wing Tse, 42, of Hopwood Close, Lowton.

They will all next appear at the Crown Court.

Meanwhile, Sung and Tse were due to appear before magistrates' court on January 31.