A CONVICTED tax fraudster has been jailed after trying to steal from the public for a second time while still serving a suspended sentence.

Andrew Mottershead, 43, of Navenby Avenue, Old Trafford, was handed a two year suspended jail sentence after submitting 12 versions of his Self-Assessment tax returns to trigger fraudulent refunds of £260,000 in 2013.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found the IT salesman tried to claim a further fraudulent refund of £7,939 in April 2014.

He manipulated his online Self Assessment tax returns to increase his tax rebates for expenses while working as a salesman, claiming: £7,939 for tax year 2013-2014.

But his employer had already refunded him for expenses, while he was serving his suspended sentence.

Sandra Smith, assistant director of fraud investigation service at HMRC, said: “Mottershead was arrogant enough to try and cheat the public not once, but twice, and is now paying the price behind bars.

“Those who try to avoid paying their fair share cheat our public services of the vital funding they need.”

A jury found Mottershead guilty of three counts of the fraudulent evasion of income tax following a trial.

At Manchester Crown Court on Monday December 5, he was jailed for 12 months for the offence and for breaching his suspended sentence.

HMRC had withheld the repayment to Mottershead as an automatic restriction applies to a convicted tax fraudster.

If you have information, about people who may be involved in tax fraud, contact HMRC’s 24-hour hotline on 0800 59 5000.