TWO haulage firm directors who stole nearly £105,000 from the taxpayer by faking vehicle purchases and claiming VAT repayments have been jailed.

An investigation by HM Revenue and Customs found that Andrew Lumb, of Europlashaulage Ltd in Uxbridge, had submitted false invoices to claim VAT refunds of £30,271.

The fraud initially came to light when officers made a VAT inspection at Lumb’s business.

He admitted to helping an acquaintance, Charlie Doherty, director of Dochaulage Ltd in Staines, to replicate the fraud in his own businesses.

With Lumb’s advice, Doherty submitted similar false invoices to reclaim VAT of £47,875.

Paul Barton, of HMRC, said: “Both defendants believed they had found the perfect way to get rich quick by conning HMRC and stealing from the British taxpayer.

“They were wrong and are now facing the consequences of their actions.”

Lumb, 51, of Hillingdon Road, Uxbridge, was sentenced to 16 months. He was also disqualified from being a director for ten years.

Doherty, 38, of Slough, was sentenced to 14 months.

A third man, Westley James Temple, of Colchester, was also arrested but failed to answer court bail at Ipswich Crown Court in October. He has since gone into hiding.