Persistent seller of illegal tobacco jailed
A trader has been jailed after repeatedly being found in possession of illegal tobacco, following an operation led by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team.
Michael John Addison, 66, of Portland Place, Cheltenham appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Friday 7 November 2025, where he was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment and ordered to pay £650 prosecution costs, after being caught within six months of receiving a two year suspended sentence for the same offences.
Addison was first apprehended in possession of illegal cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco at Kidlington market in a joint operation led by the county council’s trading standards team, the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit and Thames Valley Police in January 2022 and February 2023.
This led to a criminal conviction and a two-year suspended sentence, alongside 300 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was also ordered to pay £400,000 within six months or face four years’ imprisonment, in addition to paying the council’s costs of £30,593.79.
Despite these penalties, Addison was apprehended again during a targeted operation in Kidlington in July 2024 and subsequently found guilty at trial in August 2025.
Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “It is deeply disappointing to see a repeat offender continuing to flout the law and put our communities at risk. Illegal tobacco is not only dangerous to health, but it also undermines legitimate businesses and fuels further criminal activity.
“This case highlights the vital work of our Trading Standards team, whose dedication and persistence have once again brought an offender to justice. I want to thank our officers for their relentless efforts in protecting Oxfordshire residents and ensuring that those who break the law are held accountable.”
Addison had previously been found guilty back in September 2023 for similar illegal tobacco and money laundering offences. He was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and 300 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Davina Walkin, Trading Standards Operations Manager at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Selling illegal tobacco is a serious problem. It puts people’s health at risk and hurts honest businesses.
“Our Trading Standards team works hard to stop these crimes and protect our communities. I’m proud of their efforts in bringing repeat offenders to justice. If anyone knows about illegal tobacco being sold, please report it so we can keep Oxfordshire safe.”
Anyone with information about the illegal sale of any tobacco products should contact 0300 999 6 999 or report it anonymously through the website: stop-illegal-tobacco.co.uk.
More information
Michael Addison was previously sentenced at Oxford Crown Court in September 2023 for illegal tobacco and money laundering offences and was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for two years and 300 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
In his basis of plea, he accepted ‘converting criminal property’ by funnelling a sum of more than £155,000 through two Lloyds bank accounts in his name.
It can be hard to stop using tobacco products, but help is available. People are three times more likely to successfully quit by using a stop smoking service such as Smokefree Oxon.
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