Fraudster jailed after second offence while serving suspended sentence

A CONVICTED tax fraudster from Manchester has been jailed after trying to steal from the public for a second time while still serving a suspended sentence.

Andrew Mottershead, 43, of Navenby Avenue, Old Trafford, was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence after submitting 12 versions of his Self Assessment tax returns to trigger fraudulent refunds of £260,000 in 2013.
 
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found Mottershead tried to claim a further fraudulent refund of £7,939, for expenses his employer had already paid him, while he was serving his suspended sentence.
 
Sandra Smith, assistant director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Mottershead was arrogant enough to try and cheat the public not once, but twice, and is now paying the price behind bars.

“Those who try to avoid paying their fair share cheat our public services of the vital funding they need. I urge anyone with information on this type of fraud to contact the 24-hour hotline on 0800 59 5000.”

Mottershead was found guilty of tax fraud at trial and on Monday December 5 2016 he was jailed for 12 months for the offence and breaching his suspended sentence.

HMRC had withheld the repayment to Mottershead as an automatic restriction applies to a convicted tax fraudster.