Council will hunt down tax cheats
COUNCIL bosses are warning tax dodgers they will be "relentlessly pursued" after a Grimsby woman was jailed for failing to pay up.
Helen Shepherd was locked up for 86 days after failing to pay her council tax over a nine-year period.
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Helen Shepherd was jailed after failing to pay Council Tax on her Wellington Street property over a nine-year period.
Grimsby magistrates heard Shepherd, of Wellington Street, had persistently ignored warnings to pay some of the £4,852 she owed to the council.
Shepherd was first summonsed to court for non-payment in 2004, when £728 was wiped off her debt and she was ordered to make regular payments. However, she failed to adhere to the agreement and evaded the council for a number of years, when her debts mounted further.
She appeared back at court in March when she was ordered to pay £20 per week, but failed to do so.
Councillor Daniel Khan, North East Lincolnshire Council's portfolio holder for finance, said: "Collection of council tax is important as this pays for vital council services and we have a duty to those that do pay to ensure everyone pays.
"We pursue those who won't pay their council tax rigorously, as this case shows."
Currently, £6.7-million is owed to the authority in unpaid council tax, dating back to 1993.
However, bosses say that almost 98 per cent of council tax is collected every year – which will this year total £57-million.
Cllr Khan said: "We work hard to help those who genuinely can't pay their council tax and I would encourage anyone who is experiencing difficulties to contact us at the earliest opportunity and we will do all that we can to assist them."
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by des, grimsby
Sunday, December 20 2009, 8:10PM
“ehlen is a good lady and took with her to court £150 to take off her bill, she wanted to pay it all but council gave her a ridicules monthly amount to pay back which she could not afford, all she wanted was a more realistic monthly payment as she does not work. But instead off taking the money she offered and sorting an easier payment plan out the council would rather lose all of it and send her to prison which costs us all”
by Michael, Grimsby
Saturday, December 19 2009, 5:42PM
“Julie, before you go around criticising peoples speliing please take a look at your own. Simply appalling matches your attitude really.”
by Julie, Grimsby
Saturday, December 19 2009, 4:29PM
“Or maybe she should get off her backside and chase her ex or whoever she feels is also responsible to pay. Or just face up to life being bad sometimes but get on with it and stop blaming other people for your actions!!”
by Julie, Grimsby
Saturday, December 19 2009, 4:26PM
“Kevin - I would think if this woman is named on the bill then she would be responsible, not someone else? If not, do you fancy paying my mortgage for me as I don't feel I'm responsible?”
by kevin, gy
Saturday, December 19 2009, 3:26PM
“to all you goody two shoes out there,i know Helen personally,there are other factors to this story that the telegraph has failed to print,im also a tax payer,if the police got off there back side and got the person who is also resonsable for this bill it would not of come to this,it has cost us tax payers more to send her to prison,she is an ill women who deserves more respect,think of her family before making negotive comments not everything is black and white !!!!”