SPOTLIGHT ON: Phil Berriman

The two news items below give the background on this candidate.

Hartlepool Mail
6 August 2004

offshore offy to re-open 

BUSINESSMAN Phil Berriman is set to re-open his offshore off-licence off the coast of Hartlepool.

Charter boats are already taking bookings from people across the North-East eager to take the opportunity to buy cut-price cigarettes and booze 13 miles out at sea.

Self-styled pirate Mr Berriman said his yacht, Cornish Maiden, was going to Ostend today to stock up on supplies and was expected back by early Monday.

A crew will then leave Hartlepool Marina on Tuesday and head out to international waters where they will wait for shoppers to arrive.

The Hartlepool Mail revealed last month how Mr Berriman was operating the cheap booze business.

However, when he brought his yacht into Hartlepool Marina for repairs, Customs swooped and detained £120,000 of cargo on suspicion that duty needed to be paid.

He was told he could have the goods back without charge, but was warned that anyone who bought supplies from his boat would have to declare it to Customs.

Mr Berriman, 46, from Norton, said he was acting well within international law.

He said tax had already been paid by him when originally purchased overseas.

He added: "We will be contacting Customs asking them to bring the goods back to us.

"We are then hoping to go out on Tuesday and will stay out until we have sold out."

Sunday Sun

8 Aug 2004

"I always thought I would get even with them"

Modern-day pirate Philip Berriman is re-opening his floating off-license in an astonishing revenge bid against Customs and Excise over an £11m drugs bungle.

The North businessman was sensationally cleared of masterminding one of Britain's biggest cannabis smuggling operations, but only after being held on remand for 15 months as a class A prisoner.

Philip, 46, skippered a yacht carrying 3.7 tonnes of cannabis - worth £11million - from North Africa to Cornwall.

The shipment was seized by Customs when the vessel floundered and was forced to put out a distress call.

The skipper was held at notorious Bellmarsh Prison until his trial, where he was cleared of smuggling after proving he made the voyage under duress.

Now Philip has found a way to get even with Customs and Excise by exploiting of a loophole in the law, which he claims allows him to sell cheap EU cigarettes and alcohol in international waters 13 miles off the coast of Britain.

His first mission to sell cut-price beer, wine, spirits and cigarettes was thwarted in July when Customs seized £120,000 of cargo on suspicion that duty needed to be paid.

His goods were returned and the defiant entrepreneur has vowed to set up shop once more this week.

Charter boats from Hartlepool are already taking bookings for the off-shore store.