Benefits cheat swindled £135,000 despite turning over £600,000 through his business
A SHAMELESS benefits cheat swindled £135,000 from taxpayers despite turning over £600,000 through his own business.
Darren Jones hid the fact he owned the scrap metal business
Darren Jones, 50, told officials he needed income support because he was a low wage earner working for a scrap metal firm.
But in reality he owned the company and more than £600,000 passed through his bank accounts in just two years.
Jones claimed £17,000 in employment and support allowance over the same time while also failing to pay VAT and income tax.
Jones has been jailed for two years after admitting to tax evasion
At Cardiff Crown Court last week, prosecutor Matthew Roberts said: “A substantial amount of income was being generated. This was a dishonest endeavour from the outset.”
This was greed - pure and simple
The father-of-one from Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales should so have paid around £118,000 in VAT and income tax from his Merthyr Metals business.
Jones was jailed for two years and two months after admitting tax evasion and failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins said: “When you were arrested by the police, you claimed that you had not made any profit at all.
Jones swindled £135,000 of taxpayer cash
“But the reality was something quite different. More than £600,000 passed through your account - that is a staggering amount of money for a sole trading business operation.
“This was greed - pure and simple. You were claiming benefits while you were making money hand over fist.
“You claimed naivety, but you knew exactly what you were doing.”