Taxi Driver Online

Bosses of bogus Cornwall taxi firm jailed

THE boss of a bogus taxi firm which evaded hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxes has been jailed – and two others handed suspended sentences.

Martin Perks, 68, of Well Way, Porth, Newquay, was sentenced to three years in prison at Truro Crown Court today (Thursday).

Christopher Perks, 41, of Horizon Fields, Sennen, and Peter Hull, 60, of Golden Bank Park, Falmouth, were both sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.

All three had admitted charges of running the bogus Chy-Meor Flight Connections taxi firm, specialising in long-distance journeys to and from major UK transit hubs, which ran out of Porth, Newquay and Grampound Road Industrial Estate between January 2009 and May 2013 and of claiming to be a fully licensed and insured private hire operation.

In reality, Cornwall Council's Trading Standards officers found that the firm used unlicensed drivers and unlicensed vehicles, falsified driver documentation and made false declarations to local vehicle hire businesses.

The Trading Standards investigation took over 18 months and also discovered that the firm had made false declarations to HM Revenue and Customs to avoid paying VAT.

Despite having a turnover of around £1.2million, the form evaded almost £300,000 worth of VAT over four years.

The court heard that in May 2014 Martin Perks absconded to France.

He was arrested by French police near Toulouse in July 2015 and extradited to the UK after a European Arrest Warrant was served for Cornwall Council Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs offences.

Elizabeth Kirk, Cornwall Council senior Trading Standards officer said: "For us, this case centred around public safety.

"Our licensing laws exist to protect passengers from unfit drivers and unsafe vehicles.

"The activities of this business also caused insurances, where they existed, to be invalidated.

"We are really pleased with the outcome of this case, which was a real team effort and a great example of joined up working across the council."

Cornwall Council cabinet member for communities Geoff Brown said: "I commend the outstanding work of officers from Cornwall Trading Standards who brought this lengthy case to a conclusion.

"Cornwall Council remains determined to ensure public safety and operating an unlicensed and unregistered business could have serious implications for both the well-being and security of customers."


Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Bosses- ... z45qLdtIlJ

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

How did they build such a large operation up without attracting the authorities attention earlier?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

So they pretty much got off with it..

Falmouth man receives suspended prison sentence for his part in running bogus taxi service


Three men, including one from Falmouth, were sentenced at Truro Crown Court for their involvement in a fraudulent taxi firm that had a turnover of around £1.2 million and evaded paying almost £300,000 of VAT during a four year period.

Martin Perks, 68, of Well Way, Porth, near Newquay, was sentenced to three years in prison, with Christopher Perks, 41, of Horizon Fields in Sennen and Peter Hull, aged 60 and living at Golden Bank Park, in Falmouth, were both sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.

All three had admitted charges of running the bogus Chy-Meor Flight Connections taxi firm, specialising in long distance journeys to and from major UK Transit hubs, which ran out of Porth, Newquay and Grampound Road Industrial Estate between January 1, 2009 and May 30, 2013 and of claiming to be a fully licensed and insured private hire operation.

In reality Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards officers found that the firm used unlicensed drivers, used unlicensed vehicles, falsified driver documentation and made false declarations to local vehicle hire businesses.

The Trading Standards investigation took over 18 months and also discovered that the firm had made false declarations to HM Revenue and Customs to avoid paying VAT.

In May 2014 Martin Perks absconded to France. He was arrested by French police near Toulouse in July 2015 and extradited to the UK after a European Arrest Warrant was served for Cornwall Council Trading Standards and HM Revenue and Customs’ offences.

Elizabeth Kirk, Cornwall Council senior Trading Standards officer said: “For us, this case centred around public safety. Our licensing laws exist to protect passengers from unfit drivers and unsafe vehicles. The activities of this business also caused insurances, where they existed, to be invalidated. We are really pleased with the outcome of this case, which was a real team effort and a great example of joined up working across the council.”

Cornwall Council cabinet member for communities Geoff Brown added: “I commend the outstanding work of officers from Cornwall Trading Standards who brought this lengthy case to a conclusion. Cornwall Council remains determined to ensure public safety and operating an unlicensed and unregistered business could have serious implications for both the well-being and security of customers.”

source: http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/14 ... i_service/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Lack of proper licensing enforcement.

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IDFIMH

Newquay taxi firm fraudster Martin Perks fails to get sentence cut over £300,000 tax dodge


A fraudster who was jailed for dodging almost £300,000 tax owed by his fraudulent cab firm today lost an appeal against his prison sentence. Martin Perks, 69, of Well Way, Porth, ran a fraudulent airport transfer firm, failing to get or renew driver and vehicle licences and dodging taxes.

In March, he admitted participating in a fraudulent business and being concerned in VAT fraud and was jailed for three years at Truro Crown Court.

He was originally sent to prison alongside accomplices Peter Hull, from Falmouth, and Christopher Perks, from Sennen. All three had admitted charges of running the bogus Chy-Meor Flight Connections taxi firm out of Porth, Newquay and Grampound Road Industrial Estate.

Today, he appeared via a video link at the Court of Appeal in London as his lawyers launched an appeal against the length of his jail sentence.

But three senior judges said the punishment was fair for the serious crimes, which had resulted in losses of almost £300,000 to the taxman.

"He was wholly and exclusively responsible for orchestrating the VAT fraud," said Mrs Justice May.

The court heard Perks' business was initially legitimate when it was set up in 1999. But as the years went by, corners were cut to maximise profit. Drivers were employed without the necessary licences or kept on when their licences had expired, while vehicles were used without required licences.

It eventually led to the removal of the firm's operating licence, but that did not stop the company from trading. Huge sums of VAT were evaded by claiming that large portions of the business involved vehicles carrying more than 10 passengers, for which VAT is not due. In fact, at least 90 per cent of the firm's journeys were undertaken by vehicles which did not qualify for a VAT exemption.

Revenue and Customs estimated £280,000 in VAT was evaded.

Perks' lawyers argued that his sentence was too long, as it did not properly reflect the fact his business was not fraudulent from its inception. He had also not been given enough credit for pleading guilty, Mrs Justice May, Lord Justice Lloyd Jones and Mr Justice Knowles were told.

But giving judgment, Mrs Justice May said Perks' sentence was perfectly reasonable.

"We are satisfied that the overall sentence of three years is not manifestly excessive," she said, dismissing his appeal.

Read more at http://www.westbriton.co.uk/newquay-tax ... erS7Tjt.99

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin