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HMRC official jailed for taxpayer theft

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27th Feb 2013
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An HMRC employee has been jailed for siphoning £12,000 from taxpayers' accounts in a "flagrant breach of trust".

Karen Hindle’s position in the government department gave her direct access to peoples’ account details, which she stole in order to transfer thousands into her personal account, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The HMRC co-ordinator, who earlier in February was jailed for 12 months, also claimed £4,000 in benefits to which she wasn't entitled and made a false application for a £15,000 bank loan.

The single mother started working for HMRC's debt management and banking division in Southampton in 2003. Her role was to pursue tax debts and returns and involved contacting the public directly.

Her employers launched an internal investigation when they noticed that there had been suspicious transactions on the accounts of her victims after they had paid their outstanding balances on VAT and income tax.

A subsequent police raid on her home in Romsey, Hampshire, revealed more than 50 taxpayers' bank card details written on HMRC post-it notes, Southampton Crown Court heard.

“Essentially what Hindle did was to note the debit card details for the information which she had to pursue,” prosecutor Gareth Munday was quoted as saying by the Telegraph.

"In a flagrant breach of trust, she would keep those details and take them home."

Hindle made 67 dishonest transactions, making direct payments for companies, largely online, for sums ranging from £31 to £412.

In total she had made, or attempted to make, payments totalling more than £12,300.

When officers raided her home, Hindle tried to pass herself off as her sister, saying she was away in Devon looking after their sick mother.

It was not until they confronted her partner that she gave up the charade, the court heard.

She pleaded guilty to fraud through the abuse of her position, and to failing to notify a change of circumstance which allowed her to falsely claim £4,000 in benefits.

Hindle also admitted making a false application for a £15,000 loan from Sainsbury's Bank using her sister's name, though this was unsuccessful.

Judge Peter Ralls QC ignored calls for her to be spared jail for the sake of her teenage daughter and mortgage, pointing out she had abused a position where it was vitally important for the public to expect trust - whatever her personal circumstances.

"Only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate,” he said.

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Replies (4)

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By monksview
01st Mar 2013 12:20

HMRC theft

So its true, they are a bunch of thieving b***ards!

(Sorry, couldn't resist it)

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By Roland St Clere-Smithe
01st Mar 2013 12:37

Is that all?

Far longer prison sentences have been handed down for less serious abuses of trust. A tax payer would have been given 3 years!

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By User deleted
01st Mar 2013 12:45

HMRC Official jailed for theft

Has she repaid the money she stole ?  Surely HMRC (the taxpayer) is not expected to reimburse losses suffered by her victims ?

 

 

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By The Black Knight
01st Mar 2013 13:17

Proceeds of crime action to follow?

At least they had some internal control?

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