Former Isle of Wight Man Escapes Jail over Tax Fraud

A former Isle of Wight Man has escaped jail after he committed Tax return fraud. Labourer 31-year-old Daniel Street who used to live in Ryde but now lives in Sovereign Gate in Portsmouth stole more than £29,000 by claiming false tax repayments. In court this week he has been sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 2 years. Street created fraudulent tax returns that included income and expenses for work as a labourer between 2012 and 2015. He had simply made up the figures to commit fraud and all of the earnings and expenses he declared were false. In total he attempted to claim £41,806.20, stealing £29,115.24 before the fraud was uncovered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). A warrant was issued for Street’s arrest after he failed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court in March 2017 for his first hearing. He was arrested on 5th April this year after agreeing to meet with HMRC, and he pleaded guilty to 3 counts of Fraud by False Representation, contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006 at the same court the following day. Richard Wilkinson, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Daniel Street used the tax system as his personal bank account. He knew what he was doing was wrong and now has a criminal record for tax fraud. It is simply not acceptable to steal from UK taxpayers and from the public funds we all rely on. “HMRC will continue to pursue those criminals who attack the tax system, and we ask anyone with information about suspected tax fraud to report it online or contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.” Daniel Street was sentenced to 20 months in jail, suspended for 2 years, at Newport Crown Court this morning (Friday 25th May 2018. He has a 2 month curfew between 21:00 and 05:00 as well as 125 hours of unpaid work to complete within a year. Street was told to pay £300 in costs. The fraud was uncovered by HMRC’s Income Tax Self Assessment Repayment Taskforce and referred for criminal investigation.