A butcher who
stole £3.3m from the taxman to lead a luxury lifestyle after his
business collapsed has been jailed today following an
investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Gary Turner, 47, of Morley, Yorkshire, was a successful
businessman who owned concessions of Turner’s Butchers in local
branches of Kwik Save. But when trade slowed in 1996 he used his
business to siphon off taxpayers money, deceiving both his family
and the tax authorities.
Turner spent his criminal cash remodelling a luxury family home
as well as buying a bungalow for his son in the same street and
treating his extended family to expensive villa holidays. He owned
six high performance cars all with private registration plates,
and splashed out on Fender electric guitars costing thousands and
had a stash of luxury Rolex watches worth over £35,000.
When HMRC began to investigate Turner, he claimed his fictitious
accountant had all of his paperwork. He lied to investigators
about his accounts and provided fake business records to show his
claims were genuine but his so-called main suppliers – the
Botswana Meat Commission – had never heard of him.
Under questioning from HMRC officers Turner confessed to faking
invoices and submitting false VAT repayment claims for amounts
between £19,000 and £46,000. He admitted that he had consistently
lied tothe taxman, describing his business affairs from 1996
as ”all fake”. In reality, Turner had not made any legitimate
business income since 1996.
Peter Hollier, HMRC Assistant Director for Criminal Investigation said:
“Tax fraud is a serious crime. Turner tried to play the system so
he could live a life of luxury. He went to a great deal of effort
to try to hide his lies but our investigators unravelled what he
thought was a water-tight scam.”
Around £785,000 in assets has already been restrained by HMRC and
confiscation proceedings are underway to recover Turner’s criminal
profits.
HHJ Belcher said in court:
““This crime was aggravated by greed, not need, and at the
expense of the government and the taxpayer. Your crime hits all
members of society; you have deprived the government of money and
the NHS has been deprived also – the money could have been spent
by the NHS. You and your family were the sole beneficiary of this crime.”
Simon Rowlinson, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS Central Fraud
Group said:
“Turner’s sentence is not the end of this case for the Crown
Prosecution Service. We are now determined to go after Turner’s
illicit gains and get that money back into the public purse for
the benefit of the British public. Court proceedings will continue
as we identify the assets bought with criminal money to
confiscate, including houses, jewellery and other luxury items
beyond the means of most working people.”
Notes to editors:
1. Gary Turner, DOB 9/1/65, of 5 Grange Park Drive, Churwell,
Morley, LS27 5UR, sentenced to five years at Leeds Crown Court,
having previously pleaded guilty to cheating the public revenue.
NAT 28/12
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