Builder jailed for 27-year unpaid tax bill
A BUILDER has been jailed after a long-running scam in which he cheated taxpayers out of more than £117,600 by not paying income tax or National Insurance for 27 years.
He did not bother to declare his income and kept quiet about the money he had coming in from his businesses, a court heard.
Harry Rowbottom, 58, of Meadow Drive, Barton-upon-Humber, admitted cheating the public revenue between 1983 and 2010.
Gordon Stables, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Rowbottom was caught as part of a campaign by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs targeting self-assessment by plumbers.
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Rowbottom had worked as a builder, plumber and gas installer for 27 years, but bank accounts revealed he apparently had no regular sources of income, he did not declare any income and had not paid income tax and National Insurance.
The total he should have paid in those years was £64,674 – or £117,602 with interest.
He was arrested on November 3 last year and admitted not keeping proper records for a property he had owned since 2001 and of which he was the landlord.
He also owned plots of land and admitted working for cash that was not paid in to a bank.
Richard Hackfath, mitigating, said Rowbottom had enough assets to pay the money he owed and would do so as soon as he could.
"He let matters ride," said Mr Hackfath. "He fully expected it to come to light. It went on for 27 years.
"He was relieved to be caught and to be no longer listening for a knock on the door from Revenue and Customs.
"Ultimately, there will be no loss to the public purse.
"He knows he has to pay that money back and will take all steps to do that as soon as possible."
Judge Robert Moore told Rowbottom: "For 27 years, you paid no tax and National Insurance.
"Finally, in 2011, when the Revenue came knocking, you made full admissions and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
"You know the matter is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.
"Fortunately, the Revenue will get back the capital and interest."
Judge Moore jailed Rowbottom for 14 months and ordered him to pay back £117,602 within six months – or face a consecutive sentence of two years and three months.
Rowbottom was also ordered to pay £1,500 costs.
Comments
by In_staffroom
Sunday, November 04 2012, 5:29PM
“wellfancy that and Malcolm'sMate,
Too few voices like yours on this site. Too little compassion and tolerance. Too many too keen to hurl brickbats and sour words.”
by wellfancythat
Saturday, November 03 2012, 1:30AM
“EnlightenedOne.............folk.............not foke..............you thick idiot perhaps you should spend your time learning to spell instead of using unacceptable language and by the way honest does not need a capital letter in the middle of a sentence. MalcolmsMate does have it right, I agree, this man has been hard done to compared to others.”
by porcelainblak
Thursday, November 01 2012, 8:39PM
“wellfancythat:
Read the ratings sweety pie - you're on your own with this one babes . . .”
by EnlightendOne
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 10:38PM
“Well fancy that -aren't you a T*AT. Believe it or not there are some Honest foke around. This guy has accumulated property and probably cleared all his debts at the expense of the honest people. Malcolmsmate has got it right - he should be made to pay back far more than he has 'borrowed'" and sent down for his crimes - give him 27 years for all I care - a life long sentence for a life long crime.”
by wellfancythat
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 7:41PM
“i am curious, has nukedragga ever paid for a cash in hand job or a barrow job just to save paying the vat.........isnt that the same type of fraud”
by nukedragga
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 7:19PM
“Jail him until he coughs £117,602 + his keep in nick because I've paid out too much on his behalf for too long.”
by wellfancythat
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 5:14PM
“I wonder if porcelainblak has ever paid for a barrow job from a tradesman...plumber, builder, mechanic etc ....to save a few pounds........humm one word.....greedy”
by MalcomsMate
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 2:10PM
“The mitigation stuff sounds like the usual cobblers, but I do feel he's been hard done to compared to some of the other sentences we read about in this area. Don't get me wrong, it makes me very angry when people with loadsamoney get away with miniscule tax payments, yet the honest majority get hammered for every last groat, sou and farthing.
He's paid, or is going to pay, back everything he owes - how many times do we see the dross of this area getting off with minimal repayments, or any at all?
He's getting 14 months for crimes against the public purse, yet time and again, we see much lesser sentences for people who have caused hurt, injury and trauma to their victims.
I think it tells much about how priorities are set in this county/country and leaves a little taste of bile.”
by porcelainblak
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 1:05PM
“That's no mitigation - no excuse for avoiding paying what most of us have taken off us before we even get our wages!
One word - greedy!”
by whyhaveone
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 9:30AM
“Small beer compared to what used to go on in the fish trade in its golden era :)”