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Operator jailed for fraud
Page 16
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A BIRMINGHAM operator, previously jailed for tobacco smuggling, is back behind bars after dodging more than £275,000 worth of duty payments through a red diesel scam.
Birmingham Crown Court was told Robert James had been using red diesel to run his trucks at WM Transport between 2000 and 2004.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) road fuel testing officers seized four trucks at the business base in Tyseley, Birmingham, in May 2004 before seizing a further truck at James' home.All the vehicles tested positive for red diesel.
James was arrested on suspicion of the fraudulent evasion of excise duties through the misuse of red diesel and later admitted charges including the evasion of excise duty payable on hydrocarbon oil. Further inquiries revealed that he had used fake company names and numbers to buy the product.
James was sentenced to three years and nine months.Judge Gregory told him: "This was a deliberate and premeditated fraud".
James had previously been sentenced to three years for illegally importing tobacco in 2000. He had also been sentenced to 21 months jail for a similar offence in 1999.
HMRC has since secured an order to seize £285,416 worth of assets.