A MECHANIC jailed for stealing more than £300,000 in VAT payments tried to justify the fraud by saying that he was ‘no accountant’.

Ian Coleman, of Knowler Way, Liversedge, pocketed VAT charged to customers of his vehicle repair business, Top Gear Transmissions Ltd, in Brick Street, Cleckheaton, instead of passing the money to HM Revenue and Customs.

The fraud, which happened between 2003 and 2014, was uncovered when HMRC found anomalies in Coleman’s paperwork, Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday. During a search of his lock-up in March 2015, investigators discovered the company’s true records – detailing takings back to 2003.

Coleman, 53, denied any wrongdoing, but was unable to offer any explanation for repeatedly failing to submit accurate VAT returns, stating that he was ‘no accountant’.

He pleaded guilty last month to 12 counts of fraudulent evasion of VAT.

Today he was jailed for 32 months at Leeds Crown Court.