A pipe-fitter from the Black Country who hijacked the tax account of a co-worker with a similar name has been jailed for 12 months.

Luke Taylor, 27, from Johns Lane, Tipton, gained access to the victim’s online Self Assessment tax account and directed fraudulent claims to his own bank account by amending payment details.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigators found Taylor also used his own tax account to submit false claims. He lied about income, expenses and Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) deductions in a bid to steal £33,000 between 2014 and 2017.

Taylor was found guilty of tax fraud and sentenced to 12 months prison at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 8 May 2019. He was also ordered to pay £12,647 compensation.

Information about any type of tax fraud can be reported to HMRC online or you can call their fraud hotline on 0800 788 887.