Telford fraudster, 23, found guilty of income tax con

The case at Telford Magistrates Court was heard in the absence of defendant Stephen Buxton who failed to attend.

Miss Aimee Parkes, prosecuting on behalf of Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC), said the 23-year-old filled in and signed self-assessment forms providing information that resulted in him getting money back for overpayments he was not entitled to.

She said he was paid a cheque for £1,942.50 which the defendant cashed. On another occasion a similar amount was paid into Buxton's bank account, but the money was immediately taken back by the authorities following concerns about the claim.

At a previous hearing Buxton, of Dukes View, Donnington, denied four offences of fraud relating to the period February to June 2012.

Miss Parkes told the court that Buxton claimed to have been been working at a company called TBY Ltd, but a subsequent investigation failed to find the business and its operators. She said that he was eventually interviewed about the payments in 2014 when he was asked about the names of three other people also linked to the same employer.

"He voluntarily attended the police station where he was asked about his income and education. He was asked about the self-assessment claim and if he submitted a form known as an SA1. He was shown a form with his name and national insurance number.

"He was asked about his employment at TBY Ltd and further questions were asked about the payments. He replied: 'No comment'."

The magistrates found the case proved beyond reasonable doubt. They also issued a warrant for Buxton's arrest and sentencing.