A CHARTERED accountant who fraudulently claimed £153,000 has been locked up for 18 months.
Ronald Moncrieff claimed fictitious expenses in his own tax returns as well as falsifying returns on behalf of his wife and son.
He also claimed expenses for work he said was done by sub contractors.
But when he was investigated it was found that he never employed any.
The 65-year-old was snared when HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) did a routine check on his claims and realised there were irregularities.
When they asked him for the details of the sub-contractors who he claimed had been working for him, he never responded.
He pleaded guilty to three charges of completing false tax returns at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday .
The court heard he claimed £153,000 over a period of seven years before he was caught in October last year.
Jailing him yesterday, Judge John Milmo said: "It wasn't an isolated incident. You have carried out the fraud over [seven] years and only have yourself to blame.
"I would be doing the taxpayer an injustice if I didn't impose an immediate custodial sentence."
When suspicions were raised, HMRC officials raided Moncrieff's home in Freda Close, Carlton.
During the raid, documents were uncovered which proved he had overstated his expenses and understated his sales to reduce his tax liability.
Gary Lampon, assistant director of investigation for HMRC, said: "Moncrieff abused his position of trust as a chartered accountant and exploited his family by using their names in a bid to conceal the fraud.
"He may have thought that his professional knowledge made his criminal activity undetectable, but he was wrong."
The court heard Moncrieff has repaid £65,000 from the proceeds of his crime.
Confiscation proceedings are ongoing to reclaim the remaining £88,000 as well as £18,000 in interest.
