A DROITWICH fraudster who tried to steal more than £63,000 by submitting 18 fraudulent VAT claims has been handed a suspended two-year prison sentence.

Jayson Ledbury, aged 45, of Vines Lane, Droitwich, submitted the bogus VAT repayment claims between 2012 and 2016 for various businesses, including his tool hire company.

He then provided 29 false invoices in a bid to support the fraudulent claims and cover his tracks, a HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation uncovered.

Nick Stone, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “People like Ledbury think they can use the VAT repayment system like a personal cashpoint. He stole money from other taxpayers, gained an unfair advantage over competitors and when the net closed in, he tried to cover his tracks with bogus invoices.

“This case should serve as a severe warning to anyone who thinks they can get away with tax fraud that you will face justice for stealing from other taxpayers and depriving public services of vital funding.”

HMRC paid out £57,366 of Ledbury’s VAT repayment claims, but withheld the remaining £6,378 after launching an investigation.

Ledbury pleaded guilty to VAT fraud. He also admitted making or supplying articles for use in frauds between October 2014 and November 2015.

He was sentenced to two years prison, suspended for two years, at Worcester Crown Court on September 27, 2018.

Action to recover the stolen money is now underway.

Ledbury traded as J Ledbury Site Services and later J Ledbury Tool Hire.

On August 29, 2018, Ledbury admitted the offences at Worcester Crown Court.

Anyone with information about people or businesses involved in tax fraud can report it at gov.uk/report-an-unregistered-trader-or-business, or call HMRC’s Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.