Garage boss cheated taxman out of £65k
MAN SPARED JAIL AFTER JUDGE HEARS OF HIS CARE FOR DISABLED DAUGHTER
A BUSINESSMAN who cheated the taxman out of £65,000 has been spared jail.
Car garage owner Terence Weatherilt was hauled before the courts for VAT and income tax fraud.
Manchester Crown Court heard that over about six or seven years had defrauded Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs by ‘suppressing’ the value of sales from his business, Tex’s Tyres in Victoria Avenue, Blackley.
He ensured that sales were kept just under the threshold for VAT, the court was told. “That was dishonest, of course”, a judge told Weatherilt, 42. The court heard that the business is a ‘small concern,’ but that Weatherilt works six days a week to keep it running. Judge Hilary Manley said he is of ‘positive good character’ and cares for his disabled daughter which allowed her to suspended his prison sentence. “You have taken real steps to ensure full compliance of your business from now on, and that has been confirmed by HMRC,” the judge said. The process of recovering the money is also under way, the court heard. Judge Hilary Manley
Weatherilt, who has no previous convictions, admitted what he had done in interviews with police.
The court heard that he is held in ‘high regard’ by others and was described as a ‘hardworking family man.’
Considering his sentence, Judge Manley noted that Weatherilt cares for his disabled daughter.
She also noted that the business would ‘no doubt fail’ if Weatherilt was sent to prison.
The judge said she was satisfied that it is unlikely that he will appear before the courts again.
Weatherilt, of Woodstock Road, Moston, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, after admitting two counts of VAT fraud, one count of income tax fraud and one count of cheating the public revenue. He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work.