Fuel fraud businessman jailed

A County Durham businessman has been jailed for 15 months at Cardiff Crown Court for laundering £84,000 as part of a fuel tax fraud.

Company director Geoffrey Auston, 49, from Bishop Middleham, admitted allowing his firm to be used as a front for selling kerosene fuel without paying excise duty.

Prosecutor Jonathan Austin said customers paid Anglo Fuels Ltd for the fuel - believing it was a legitimate business.

But Auston then withdrew the cash and handed it to his business partners.

Mr Austin said: "He was withdrawing cash then immediately passing it on to those who had sold the fuel.

"Auston told customs officers he would take the money from the accounts and delver it to a man at a service station."

Criminal conduct

Cardiff Crown Court heard Auston thought there was a legitimate reason for the business at first - but then became afraid of his partners.

Mr Austin added: "He acknowledged there was an element of fear in crossing the others in the enterprise."

Auston admitted assisting another to obtain the benefit of criminal conduct.

His activities were discovered after an extensive investigation by Customs and Excise officers in Cardiff.

Jennet Treharne, defending, said Auston had been "naive" when he got involved in the scam, believing the tax-dodgers had a genuine interest in his firm.

Jailing Auston for 15 months, judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, said: "You must have been alerted within a short time that you were involved in an extremely bizarre and unusual set of circumstances.

"It is a matter of grave concern that criminal gangs seem able to enjoy the proceeds of their crimes by laundering."