Haulage firm fraudster is jailed for a second time for tax evasion - The Redditch Standard

Haulage firm fraudster is jailed for a second time for tax evasion

Redditch Editorial 21st Nov, 2018   0

A TAX fraudster has been jailed for a second time for failing to pay back the £75,000 he stole in a two-year tax fraud.

Craig McDougall, the owner of a Wythall-based heavy goods haulage business, lied about his turnover and income for more than two years.

He even claimed HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) had lost his records – but no paperwork was ever received.

Investigators were able to check his bank records and found huge discrepancies.




Officers found that during 2011 and 2013 his turnover was £830,000 and not £649,058, as McDougall had claimed.

He also said his income was only £16,995 for those years, but he withdrew more than £235,000 which he couldn’t account for.


McDougall, 47, of Lindsworth Road, Kings Norton, was convicted after trial of evading Income Tax, National Insurance and VAT and sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court in July 2017.

He was sentenced to four years in prison for evading tax by lying about the takings from his haulage business.

He was then ordered to repay £75,777.19 but McDougall failed to pay back any of the money and has now had another 20 months added to the end of his sentence.

Debbie Porter, assistant director, fraud investigation service, HMRC, said: “This case proves crime doesn’t pay. McDougall’s original sentence has increased by nearly 50 per cent and he will still owe the money when he is released from his extended period in prison.

“He was given the chance to pay back the money, but chose not to.

“Our work does not end when fraudsters are jailed. We will always try to recover the proceeds of crime and ensure they are spent on our vital public services.

“Anyone with information about tax fraud can call our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

Information about any type of tobacco or tax fraud can also be reported to HMRC online at www.gov.uk/report-an-unregistered-trader-or-business

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