Former security boss jailed for VAT fraud

The owner of a Nottinghamshire security firm, who ran away from court minutes before he was due to be sentenced for pocketing £300,000 in VAT he charged customers instead of handing it over to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), has been given a 28-month prison term.

The fraud came to light in July 2012 when HMRC officers discovered James Turner, 56, from Rise Park had been issuing invoices charging VAT using invalid registration numbers, some de-registered numbers and others showing no VAT registration number at all. Further investigations revealed that he had also failed to record financial transactions through the company books, in an attempt to hide his wrongdoing.

Stuart Taylor, assistant director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “This was a blatant fraud driven by greed, with the only thought being to line his own pockets. Turner knew he was breaking the law, and that he was stealing money that should have been spent on the UK’s vital public services, but chose to do it anyway.

“He is now paying the price for his criminal behaviour; but it doesn’t end there, as HMRC will look to recoup the proceeds of his crime.”

Turner pleaded guilty to VAT fraud and was due to be sentenced on 11th February at Nottingham Crown Court, but absconded from court minutes before his hearing. He was arrested five days later and remanded in custody. He has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison at the same court and disqualified from acting as a director for seven years.

Confiscation proceedings to reclaim the proceeds of his criminal activity will now begin.