Former butcher in £3m VAT scam waits to learn his fate

Father-of-six Gary Turner began making fraudulent claims for VAT refunds when his own butcher’s business began to struggle.

When he realised the amount he could make from dishonesty, he invented a completely fictitious meat wholesale company so he could claim even more back, Laura Addy, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

He created false invoices and accounts to reclaim VAT and even bought premises where the firm was supposedly based, but which in fact was rented to someone else.

Turner, 47, of Grange Park Drive, Churwell, Morley, Leeds, has admitted two charges of cheating the revenue.

Miss Addy said the initial business, Turners Butchers, was run legitimately from premises in Dewsbury Road and appeared reasonably successful.

As a result Turner was offered a franchise in some local branches of Kwik Save in Morley, Pontefract, Middleton, Leeds and Crossflatts, near Bingley.

However, he then suffered financial difficulties and by 1998 the butchers had ceased trading altogether, but he continued to reclaim tax for it over the following years using sham invoices.

He also created a completely fictitious meat wholesale business. “The only purpose of creating this false business was to further the fraudulent activity he had begun,” she said.

Turner decided what money he would need each quarter and then claimed it from the revenue with fraudulent documents backing up his lies.

In 2010 alone he claimed £320,000.

Over the years the family enjoyed expensive holidays abroad, he spent money on sailing and fishing trips, he bought a number of cars with personalised number plates, installed a £7,000 solid oak staircase and solar panels in his home.

He also bought a house for his son, with the mortgage payments met regularly from his fraud.

His dishonesty was eventually uncovered when a VAT inspector who visited him last year realised the documents he was shown were bogus and Turner was arrested in June during a raid on his home.

He admitted what he had done saying: “I know it sounds crass and naive but when it’s there you just spend it.”

Steven Milner, representing Turner, said he had kept his secret from his wife and family throughout and they had been shocked at his arrest.

He came from a working-class background and was not a Jehovah’s Witness, as had been reported.

He had worked hard to build up his butcher’s shop but found himself faced with financial problems after taking on the franchises.

He had inflated one genuine VAT claim to pay a debt and then it spiralled.