A CRAFTY Cambuslang man submitted false tax forms to pocket over £4,000.
Alan Duffy, 54, initially tried to blame his accountant when he was caught claiming back business travel expenses that had already been paid, but then had to accept he provided the fictitious information and signed off on the documents to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, the accused pleaded guilty to forming a fraudulent scheme. Whilst fully employed by Sky plc, Duffy set up an income tax self-assessment account with HMRC and claimed tax relief on business travel expenses – knowing that he had been reimbursed for said expenses by his employer.
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Between April 6, 2009 and April 6, 2015, the accused obtained £4,489 of which he was not entitled.
As reported by the Evening Times earlier this year, it was highlighted in court that there was a deflection of blame within the Criminal Justice Social Work report.
Duffy had initially accused his accountant, but now "wholly accepts" he was signing off on the information provided by him.
His defence agent stated that the accused had never been in trouble before, but accepted: "It's a serious offence, committed over a number of years."
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In March, sentence was deferred for six months for Duffy to be of good behaviour and to give him time to make repayments to HMRC.
Returning to court this week, Sheriff Tony Kelly was told that the accused, of Redlawood Road in Newton, had stayed out of trouble and was paying the money back at £30 per month.
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Sentence was further deferred until December 11 for the payments to continue.
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