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Haulier cleared, but Customs won't quit
Page 6
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• by Jennifer Ball A Diss haulier has slammed Customs & Excise for pursuing a civil action against him for fuel duty evasion, despite him having been cleared of criminal charges.
Mark Crofton-Sleigh was found not guilty last year at Norfolk Crown Court of knowingly using a cut-price mixture of paraffin and diesel bought from Norfolk Fuel Oils.
Customs officers estimated that at least 500,000 litres of paraffin were sold by the firm between March 1998 and June 2000, and that more than £200,000 of duty was evaded in that period (CM 13-20 June 2002).
Patrick Snelling, the owner of Norfolk Fuel Oils, was jailed for 18 months while his partner Trevor Watts was cleared after denying similar charges.
However, despite Crofton-Sleigh's acquittal, Customs has continued to pursue the case against him for £104,000 in duty evaded on the illegal fuel he bought from Norfolk.
Crofton Sleigh says: "I have already pad the tax on the fuel to Norfolk when I bought it, believing it was diesel. I walked out of court without an apology from Customs and with my 26-year-old business and family life in ruins.
"It has taken me months to pick up the pieces. I have been proved innocent, yet Customs will not drop the charges against me and I am not eligible for compensation. Their attitude has been horrendous.'
Customs declined to comment on the case.
• In a separate case. Customs has Oven fresh hope to international hauliers who felt they had become an easy target for prosecution in cases where drivers are found with prohibited levels of tobacco or alcohol.
recent VAT tribunal in Edinburgh, looking at the case of Atal Anderson, had been advised to take a more realistic approach to hauliers who fall victim to rogue drivers.
AJ Anderson has now heard from Customs that the case has been reviewed, and that the restoration fee should be refunded.