Potato merchant facing big bill

A legal case in which prosecutors will try to reclaim money from a former Perthshire potato merchant will be heard at Perth Sheriff Court on January 23.

The Crown and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are pursuing a proceeds of crime action against Scott Coupland, who was jailed for two and half years in February after being found guilty after trial of a £161,000 tax evasion.

Coupland, of Crieff, had made two false VAT repayment claims between March 2011 and November 2012.

During the trial, the court had heard the 48-year-old, a sole director with WDR Coupland (Produce) Ltd, used the money accrued to fund his lifestyle and pay private school fees for his children.

Yesterday, solicitor Nicky Brown, defending, said she would like time to look into a fresh proceeds of crime confiscation order, to allow her a period to come up with “answers”.

The court had previously heard that suspicion surrounding Coupland arose due to the large sums of repayments he claimed to have made in net sales. Staff at HMRC looked into the matter and it ended up at court.

He had offered to pay back £20,000 in a bid to avoid a prison sentence, but Sheriff William Wood stated no money had been paid back to HMRC in four years.

A proof hearing to discuss the proceeds of crime investigation will take place in the new year.