Two haulage company directors who stole nearly £105,000 by faking vehicle purchases to claim VAT repayments have been given jail sentences following an HMRC investigation
Andrew Lumb, of Europlashaulage Ltd in Uxbridge, was found to have submitted false invoices for the purchase of vehicles to claim VAT refunds of £30,271. The fraud initially came to light when HMRC compliance officers made a VAT inspection at Lumb’s business.
During the investigation Lumb admitted to helping acquaintance Charlie Doherty, director of Dochaulage Ltd in Staines, to replicate the fraud in his own businesses. With Lumb’s advice, Doherty submitted false invoices for the fictitious purchase of vehicles to reclaim VAT of £47,875.
At Ipswich Crown Court, Lumb was sentenced to 16 months in prison and disqualified from being a director for ten years, while Doherty was handed a 14 month jail sentence. A third man, Westley Temple, was arrested in relation to the investigation but failed to answer court bail and has since gone into hiding. A warrant has been granted for his immediate arrest and HMRC has issued a wanted appeal.
Paul Barton, assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said: ‘Both defendants believed they had found the perfect way to get rich quick by conning HMRC and stealing from the British taxpayer. They were wrong and are now facing the consequences of their actions.’
