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Businessman jailed for VAT swindle

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13th May 2015
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A Londoner who claimed to run a multi-million pound business from his flat has been jailed for three years for stealing almost £350,000 worth of  VAT fraud.

Neil Lesfrance was arrested by HMRC in September 2012 when an investigation into his tax affairs revealed he had made false VAT returns to claim repayments that weren’t due.

When HMRC officers visited Lesfrance in March 2009, to verify his VAT returns for Wembley-based firm Paramount Enterprises, he plied them with forged documents.

These included purchase invoices for items he claimed to be retailing such as photocopiers and large display screens, and bank statements showing a credit of over £2 million, to give the impression he was running a successful business. The true balance in his bank account varied from £200 to being overdrawn.

Lesfrance was asked to provide further business records, but he said these had been stolen from the boot of his car and that his stock had been stolen from his one bedroom rented flat. 

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By tomriv801
15th May 2015 14:37

Stupid

 !! Silly!!

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Replying to Cheshire:
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By qhas
15th May 2015 22:36

Plenty more out there,,,,,,
that the revenue have not picked up. I lnow of at least five.

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By MrotsylliD
22nd Jun 2015 18:04

Was he really a businessman?
Or just a frauster with a printer?

 

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