Legal News
Jail for council tax dodger (21 August 2017)
Date: 21/08/2017
A restaurant manager from Havering in Essex has been jailed for owing nearly £9,000 in council tax.
Atique Choudrey – manager of a restaurant in Hornchurch – was jailed after months of persistent reminders and court summons from the council.
He finally turned himself in at Havering Town Hall on 12 June, where he was arrested – and was subsequently found guilty for non payment of £8,827.33 in council tax over a period of eight years.
He was sentenced to 90 days’ imprisonment.
The council has now received full payment of £9,372.33 from Mr Choudrey, including £8,827.33 of unpaid council tax, £145 for no appearance at a court hearing in February 2017 – and an extra £400 towards this year’s council tax.
Cabinet Member for Financial Management, Transformation and IT, Councillor Clarence Barrett, said:
“This should be a clear message that we that we will not tolerate non payment of council tax in the borough.
“It’s a very serious offence and we are cracking down on this – whether it’s council tax or business rates, it is important they are all paid in full.
“We are here to help and would prefer to know about any changes in your financial situations as early as possible.”
Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers
Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers are available 24/7, 365 days a year to advise at any stage of a criminal charge, including serious organised crime, violent crime, sexual offences, terrorism charges, human trafficking and modern slavery charges, robbery, drugs offences, business crime, benefit fraud and council tax evasion, motoring offences and anti-social behaviour offences such as alcohol-related offences, harassment, criminal damage, graffiti and begging.
There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales – and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can attend interviews under caution within an hour.
For expert legal advice on criminal charges, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 0333 772 0409.
For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.