A BUNGLING Southampton smuggler got caught out when he left seven suitcases full of cigarettes at a port which had his name on.

David Michael Carr, 44, admitted to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that he had left them in the cafe at Harwich Port while he gave a friend a lift in his car.

Officers found 78 kilos of tobacco and 2,800 cigarette in the cases and a further 10,000 cigarettes in the boot of his car in August.

It is estimated that Carr, from Southampton, who was charged with smuggling offences on September 6, avoided paying £15,800 in tax.

He was sentenced to 200 hours community service at Chelmsford Crown Court and ordered to pay back the tax within 28 days or face nine months in jail.