A solicitor who attempted to pocket £133,000 in a tax fraud by changing conveyancing documents and lying to his clients has been jailed.
Timothy Thomas Rogers, 35, owner of Rogers & Co Solicitors in Leeds, was caught by HMRC investigators after they discovered discrepancies in property sales where he had acted as the conveyancing solicitor.
Investigators found that Rogers had altered legal documents to reduce the amount of Stamp Duty due on properties bought by his clients. He then charged them the full amount and pocketed the difference.
In an attempt to cover up the fraud he submitted Land Registry documents showing the true purchase price for the properties.
HMRC investigators uncovered eight property transactions in which Rogers had defrauded his clients.
Rogers submitted false VAT refund claims totalling more than £79,000 between April 2011 and June 2011. He was caught out when he refused to hand over the paperwork needed to support his claims.
Rogers was arrested and questioned by officers from HMRC and later charged with two counts of cheating the public revenue. He pleaded guilty to both in August and has now been sentenced to 21 months in prison by Her Honour Judge Cahill at Leeds Crown Court.
Jo Tyler, assistant director of criminal investigation at HMRC, said: “As a solicitor, Rogers knew only too well what the consequences of his actions would be.
“To abuse the trust of clients and employees was a despicable act, trying to steal money that had been paid by them in good faith to meet their tax liabilities.
“This sentence should serve as a reminder to those who hold positions of trust that the justice system takes a firm line on those who fall foul of the law.”
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