Reply To: Mechanic jailed for 18 months over £210,000 tax fraud

[Saidy]

So the tax payer will foot his bill for his keep. I am told it costs about £5,000 per week for stay in prison, so If I do the maths it will cost £360,000 plus £210,000 in lost fraud earnings equals a whopping £570,000 plus court costs.

The psychology of being away from family is traumatic. Further to this when released from prisond he will have no business to go to and sadly by given a criminal record who will employ him. Hopefully he will not need rehabilation and housing. So in all of this who is the real loser and is this real justice. Agreed no one is above the Law and all earnings must be declared and due taxes paid.

In my opinion Instead of the courts punishing and depriving him of his dignity surely Hmrc could have come to some form of agreement whereby he would be allowed to run his business and paid off the tax owing with fines by monthly terms. This way the tax payer would have hugely benefitted. Closing down a business is not the answer. Again, what about huge tax evasion by large Corporate Companies running in millions of pounds.
By contrast there are far worst crimes committed with far less punishment.