Wirral accountant steals client’s tax rebate

An accountant with a 'dishonest streak' who secured a £6,000 tax rebate for a self-employed bricklayer only to pocket it for himself, has been jailed. A Liverpool Crown Court judge told gambling addict, Jamie Calland, who has a previous conviction for stealing £11,000 from his employers, that he had 'dishonest streak' before jailing him for 16 months. The 25-year-old of Prenton in Merseyside, pleaded guilty to theft.

Prosecutor, Martine Snowden, told the court that in July 2010, the duped victim, David King, had asked Calland for help and within weeks was informed by HMRC that he was set to receive a £6,498 rebate.

But last September, Calland sent his client a cheque for £6,176, the rebate minus his fee, and asked him not to cash it for a while. Yet when he did, it bounced and he spoke to Calland who fobbed him off.