Tax fraud gang member jailed
The final gang member of an eight-strong gang from the West Midlands has been sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court
James Cowley, 28, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years.
The gang’s ringleaders have now all been jailed for attempting to steal £300,000 through fake tax claims.
Ringleaders Mark Thorpe, aged 39, and Aaron Hayers, 35, asked colleagues to submit Self Assessment returns claiming they had paid too much tax, and took a percentage of their claims.
They asked for repayments totaling £296,193 between 2011 and 2015, a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation has revealed. A total of £172,441 was paid out to the individuals, and another £118,622 was withheld by HMRC.
The men were found out when officers noticed similarities between the tax returns, such as the same employment details.
Paul Fisher, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Services, HMRC, called this a “relentless and sustained attack”.
“HMRC stopped their attempt to steal thousands more from the public purse, but they are now facing over five years in jail,” he said.
Thorpe pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 32-month custodial sentence at Birmingham Crown Court on 2 March, and Hayers was given a 36-month custodial sentence after admitting guilt at the same court last September.
Six of the remaining gang members were also convicted of submitting fraudulent returns, and given suspended prison sentences.
