Tyrone farmer jailed for VAT fraud

A Co Tyrone farmer who tried to steal over £1.3 million in a VAT fraud has been jailed for 16 months after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Gerald Moane, 46, from Fivemiletown, created false invoices claiming he had bought machinery and completed farming work to fraudulently reclaim VAT.

Mike Parkinson, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said:

“Moane deliberately set out to create a false paper trail so that he could claim money that he was not entitled to. He manipulated a system that exists for the benefit of legitimate companies with the sole purpose of lining his own pockets.

“He knew he was breaking the law, yet chose to overlook it for the opportunity of making what he wrongly assumed would be easy money, at the expense of the taxpayer.”

A confiscation hearing to recover the proceeds of his crime will follow.

Notes for editors

1. Gerald Moane, DOB 19/09/1967, of Teigeshill Road, Fivemiletown, pleaded guilty to 23 charges of VAT fraud in June 2014. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and 20 months on licence when he appeared at Dungannon Crown Court today.

2. Anyone with information about people or businesses involved in tax fraud can contact HMRC through the Tax Evasion hotline on 0800 788 887 or at www.hmrc.gov.uk/reportingfraud/online.htm

3. HMRC’s Flickr channel: www.flickr.com/hmrcgovuk

4. Follow HMRC's press office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice