A Scottish businessman who faked paperwork for his fisheries supply business in a £490,000 VAT fraud has been jailed for 32 months following an HMRC investigation
John Fleming, the director of ICS Fisheries Ltd, bought fish to sell to local fish and chip shops, restaurants and fish vans in the Fife area. Between May 2007 and November 2013 Fleming created a series of false purchase invoices adding fictitious delivery and VAT charges that he had allegedly paid. He then used the invoices to make fraudulent VAT repayment claims totalling £489,341.
Fleming was sentenced to 32 months in prison when he appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court last week, having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing in May to VAT repayment fraud, contrary to section 72 of the VAT Act 1994 and offences contrary to the Fraud Act 2006.
Denis Kerr, assistant director, fraud investigation service, HMRC, said: ‘When we pay tax, we expect it to go towards paying for vital public services, not to line the pockets of unscrupulous traders. Fleming knew he was breaking the law but thought he could get away with ripping off honest taxpayers.’
