Oliver Cooper, 33, of Chippenham, has been sentenced to over five years in prison after committing multiple serious fraud offences. The case began in May 2022 when Cooper separated from his partner. Just two months later, he forged digital signatures to unlawfully alter the property equity they jointly owned, causing his ex-partner a loss of approximately £71,000.
The fraudulent scheme was quickly uncovered after reports were made to Wiltshire Police, who launched a thorough investigation. Despite the charges, Cooper prolonged the court proceedings across both criminal and civil cases for more than two years. Acting Detective Sergeant Martyn Powell stated, “Financial abuse is a form of domestic violence… The police are fully equipped to investigate and identify methods of financial abuse.”
Cooper’s criminal activities extended beyond property fraud. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigated his cleaning business for fraudulent VAT claims made between July 2019 and March 2022. At Swindon Crown Court, Cooper admitted to committing £200,000 worth of VAT fraud and money laundering offences. He also pleaded guilty to forging fake documents and attempting to access frozen bank accounts. For these offences, he received an additional sentence of two years and nine months in prison.
Matt Moignard, lead of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, commented, “Fraudsters like Cooper think they can lie, cheat, and steal. We’re determined to create a level playing field and bring tax crooks to justice.” The total sentence of five and a half years sends a strong message that financial abuse and tax fraud will not be tolerated. Authorities encourage victims and whistleblowers to come forward to assist in combating these crimes.
Originally published by UKNIP.
