Legal News

York Crown Court has sentenced a farmer to seven years in jail for masterminding a fraudulent scheme to evade tax and duty on fuel.

BBC News reports that 72-year-old Michael Wilmot from Osgodby, near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire was referred to in court as the “controller” of a gang, which evaded millions in tax and fuel duty.

Inspectors from HMRC uncovered a scam in which Wilmot and his accomplices supplied rebated fuel – known as red diesel – to 35 HGV firms. Wilmot had used his contacts to buy a consortium in Louth, which supplied the fuel.

HMRC inspectors also uncovered a factory where false fuel tanks were made and fitted to HGVs. Between 2006 and 2012, it is thought the gang profited from 1.5 million litres of rebated fuel, costing £750,00 in lost tax and duty.

Wilmot was also accused of “pocketing” an estimated £3.5m in VAT, which he had charged customers.

The rest of the gang members received sentences of between 18 months and four-and-a-half years.

In court, 50-year-old Tracie Morton of Toft Next Newton was described as Wilmot's “right-hand women”. She received a four-and-a-half year sentence for conspiracy to evade payment and conspiracy to cheat Her Majesty's Revenue.

Michael Taylor, 38, of Waterloo Street, Market Rasen – described as a driver – was also jailed for four years for conspiracy to evade payment and conspiracy to cheat Her Majesty's Revenue.

Market Rasen councillor David Strachan, 50, of King Street in Market Rasen – who resigned after he was convicted of conspiracy to evade payment – received a two-year jail sentence for his part in the fraud.

Company director John Raithby, 59, from Waddingham was given an 18-month sentence after being convicted on a charge of evading payment of VAT.

Lincolnshire Police spokeswoman Rachel Hughes said after the hearing:

“When we started our investigation we thought it was going to be a fairly small operation locally – we had no concept of what was to come.

“We were amazed at the scale of what was revealed.”

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