A businesswoman swindled more than £300,000 in VAT fraud, a court heard. Melanie Paddon was running Bristol-based Imperial Design when she made improper tax claims to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
The 59-year-old, whose address was given as Pembroke Road in Clifton, pleaded guilty to furnishing false submissions between September 2013 and December 2017. Bristol Crown Court heard the value of the offence amounted to some £334,000, but Paddon was said to have paid back £340,000.
Judge James Patrick handed her a two-year jail term, suspended for 18 months. He told Paddon: "If you and I meet again you'll have every expectation you can go to prison."
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Paddon told Bristol Live: "I'm really ashamed of my mistake and I've paid the money back. HMRC has been fully reimbursed."
The judge ordered Paddon to carry out 180 hours' unpaid work over the next 18 months. She was also given a six-month curfew during which she must stay indoors from 6pm to 6am and was disqualified from being a director of a business five years.
Lucie Stoker, prosecuting, said Paddon, a married mum-of-two, ran refurbishment company Imperial Design. The court heard Paddon was submitting VAT claims for payments which had not been made to her company over some four years.
Miss Stoker told the court Paddon had missed opportunities to engage with HMRC. But she did make admissions when interviewed, Miss Stoker said.
Charles Row KC, defending, said: "She has expressed acute shame and embarrassment. She has lost her good name.
"She has let down her family, friends and work colleagues.
"She accepts dishonesty. She is very sorry. She feels ashamed and embarrassed."
Mr Row said money fraudulently gained had been put into the cashflow of the business, and there was sign of high living for Paddon. He said his client had contended with medical issues and was also a main breadwinner who would "move heaven and earth" to support her family.
Mr Row added that Paddon's family home was sold in 2019 as Paddon wanted to pay back money defrauded. Since then Paddon has been living in rented accommodation, the court was told.
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