A Cleckheaton businessman who cheated the revenue of VAT has been ordered to give up his assets or face more time in jail.
Ian John Coleman of Liversedge was sentenced in last August after failing to declare the true income of his Top Gear vehicle repair company and underpaying tax over a period of 11 years.
He was sentenced to 32 months in prison.
The judge said: “This is clearly not a victimless crime. Everyone suffers, especially in these difficult financial times, hospitals, schools and similar establishments suffer if the pot is diminished.”
After the case last year Martin McDonnell for HMRC said: “Coleman thought that he’d found a way to exploit the tax system. He was wrong and now he’s paying the price with a jail sentence. This is money that should have been funding vital public services and Coleman created an uneven playing field for his honest competitors.”
Ian appeared before Leeds Crown Court yesterday for a Proceeds of Crime application.
The Judge heard that Coleman’s total benefit from criminal conduct was now agreed at £345,865 with assets available of £298,316.
Judge James Spencer QC made a confiscation order in the amount available including Coleman’s half share in properties in Bridlington, Cleckheaton and Liversedge. He was given three months to pay with four years in prison.
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