Tobacco tax fraudsters told to repay £100,000

JON MACPHERSON

TWO men who were jailed for their part in a £16 million illegal tobacco fraud have been ordered to repay more than £100,000 or spend longer in prison.

Keith Allen, of West View Oswaldtwistle, and James Willmott, of Wellfield, Clayton le Moors, were caught by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) buying illegal cigarettes and tobacco during a surveillance operation in 2014.

HMRC said Allen and Willmott were ‘middlemen’ in a fraud that centred on a criminal network based in Blackburn.

The Observer previously reported how they were jailed for their roles in the fraud, along with four other men at Preston Crown Court

Retired Allen, 67, has now been ordered to repay £65,444.16 within three months or face a further 18 months in prison.

HMRC found Allen had property, shares and savings worth £65,444.16.

Painter and decorator Willmott, 55, was ordered to repay £42,000 within three months or have a further 15 months added to his jail sentence.

HMRC found Willmott had £42,000 from the sale of a house.

A Darwen man has also been ordered to pay back £67,616.16 within three months or face a further 18 months in jail.

All three would still have to repay the money.

Debbie Porter, assistant director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said: “These were middlemen in the illegal tobacco trade.

“Organised criminal gangs cannot operate without these middlemen to distribute illegal goods and circulate criminal cash. These three have ended up behind bars and we’re now taking away everything their crimes got them.

“HMRC will recover money stolen through tax fraud for UK taxpayers.

“We will not allow criminals to profit from tax evasion. We are determined to create a level playing field for local businesses by disrupting the illegal trade and punishing the fraudsters.”

Allen was found guilty to three charges of the import or export of goods with intent of defray Her Majesty of duty and one count of acquiring, using or possessing criminal property. He defrauded the tax payer out of £350,000 and was jailed for four years.

Willmott admitted two counts of import or export of goods with intent to defraud Her Majesty of duty and was jailed for 16 months.