HMRC has finally confirmed a crooked Perth accountant has paid £11,700 in compensation – three years after it was actually returned.
A sheriff told former taxman Derek Foster – once labelled as Perth’s “Walter Mitty” – he “frankly doesn’t believe” claims an estranged brother paid back the money.
But HMRC has produced a letter to say the debt was settled on October 24 2019, the same day Foster had been slapped with a compensation order.
His community payback order had required him to pay the money via a sheriff clerk but his brother paid the money back directly.
Despite months of writing to HMRC, Foster’s lawyers got no reply confirming the debt had been settled.
The 49-year-old was warned last month if the vouching could not be provided, he would be jailed.
He said his online tax account had been closed since an investigation into his affairs began.
He completed the 300 hours of unpaid work and supervision period after being convicted.
This week, solicitor John McLaughlin produced a letter from HMRC which confirmed the money was paid in full more than two years and nine months ago.
Sheriff Euan Duthie revoked Foster’s community payback order.
Strip club 3 not guilty
Three Dundee carers have been found not guilty of neglecting vulnerable adults by taking them to a strip show Christmas night out. Caitlin Gibb, Shannon Briggs and Samantha Brunton had been accused of ill-treating and wilfully neglecting people in their care by taking them to the “full-frontal” strip show in December 2018. The lengthy court proceedings were brought to an end by the sheriff and they were forma;;y acquitted.
Drink-driver carpeted
A carpet fitter has been disqualified from driving after he was caught motoring down the A9 while nearly three times the legal alcohol limit.
Police noticed a strong smell of booze when they pulled over Ian McNab near Birnam just after 10am on July 27.
He was arrested after a positive roadside breath test.
The 35-year-old appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted driving with 64 mics of alcohol in his system – the legal limit is 22 mics.
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said McNab, of Donaldson Drive, Irvine, had been drinking the night before and thought he was fine to get behind the wheel.
The court heard the father-of-two had recently ended his contract as a carpet fitter and was looking for new employment.
He was fined £100 and banned from the road for a year.
‘Cheers’ sheriff
Self-proclaimed “cannabis connoisseur” Gary Winton has been jailed after police uncovered a huge drugs haul worth nearly £10,000 at his Perth flat. The garage worker failed to convince a jury the massive stash – almost a kilo – was for his personal use. He thanked the sheriff as he was sent down for 18 months.
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