Residents charged in £1m Rasen fraud case
Eight people from the Market Rasen area have been charged with VAT and tax fraud in excess of £1m, the Rasen Mail can reveal.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has charged eight residents after a series of raids as part of an investigation into illicit fuel use and VAT fraud in Lincolnshire.
And among the people charged is Market Rasen Town councillor David Strachan, 48.
The others charged are Michael Wilmot, 70, of Low Road, Market Rasen, Charles Trafford, 58, of Osgodby, Derek Blackburn, 58, of Station Road, Moortown, Tracie Morton, 49, of Toft next Newton, Michael Taylor, 37, of Waterloo Street, Market Rasen, John Raithby, 57, of Snitterby Road, Waddingham and Marion Tompkins, of Little Tows, Ludford.
They have all been charged with fraudulently evading excise duty on hydrocarbon oils, using red diesel as fuel for HGVs, evading VAT by obtaining payment of VAT credits, failing to account to the public revenue in respect of tax levied on sales and supplies of goods and services.
The final charge involves failing to declare a true income from self-employment and failing to pay income tax, national insurance and corporation tax.
The early morning raids last June saw police seize documents, computers and a van equipped with re-fuelling facilities.
Officers found and dismantled equipment suspected of being used to adapt fuel tanks to use illilcit red diesel - marked gas oil or a rebated fuel not for use in road vehicles.
HMRC assistant director Peter Hollier said: “HMRC takes the illegal use of red diesel and tax fraud seriously and will not hesitate to investigate those suspected of stealing public funds.”
All eight will make a plea at Leeds Crown Court on May 17.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Market Rasen
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
