Derbyshire man jailed for tax fraud

A 30-year-old Alfreton man who worked with an accomplice to try to swindle over £205,000 in tax repayments from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has been jailed today.

Danny Peat from Peveril Road, Tibshelf, falsified his online Self Assessment tax returns by claiming he was self employed with substantial business expenses. By lying about his expenses he tried to steal over £120,000 in tax he wasn’t entitled to.

Peat, along with accomplice Shane Plunkett, 31, of Belper, made a similar fraudulent tax claim, in Plunkett’s name, for over £85,000.

Stuart Taylor, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said:

“Peat and Plunkett made several online claims, which all proved bogus, in an attempt to line their own pockets. HMRC takes tax fraud extremely seriously and anyone deliberately choosing to evade their taxes or making deliberate attacks on the UK’s tax systems will face prosecution.

“If you have information about people who may be involved in tax fraud you can contact the Tax Evasion Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

The pair pleaded guilty to the fraud at separate court hearings earlier this year. Peat was jailed for 16 months and Plunkett was jailed for 6 months for the tax fraud, plus 9 months for other police offences. suspended for 18 months.

Notes for editors

1.  Danny Thomas Peat (previously known as Daniel Dale Twells), DOB 04/01/84, of Peveril Road, Tibshelf, Alfreton, Derbyshire was sentenced at Derby Crown Court. He pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements with intent to defraud, contrary to Common Law on February 2014 at the same court. Peat had made attempts to gain tax payments totalling £120,566 using online self-assessment tax returns for tax years 2010 to 2011 and 2011 to 2012. He falsified details of his Pay As You Earn income and claimed he was self-employed with large business expenses. HMRC investigators proved his income, expenses and employment status were all faked.

2.  Shane Plunkett, DOB 04/08/82, of New Breck Road, Belper, Derbyshire pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements with intent to defraud, contrary to Common Law. Plunkett submitted one false tax return attempting to claim over £85,000 and pleaded guilty on 20 May 2014 at Derby Crown Court. His sentence included other police offences of harassment, theft and criminal damage. He was also issued with a curfew and surcharge.

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