A Gloucester security services company director, who was jailed for stealing almost £500,000 in tax, has been ordered to pay back £67,424 or face an additional two years in jail and still owe the money.

J S Facilities Group director Jonathan Schofield was found guilty of committing tax fraud totalling £497,000 and jailed for three years in February 2018. An investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed that he made fraudulent declarations of income tax and national insurance, under the PAYE system, and VAT between 2011 and 2016.

However, on 18 July 2018 at Gloucester Crown Court, he was ordered to pay back £67,424.47 within three months, or face another two years in prison.

The confiscation hearing concluded that Schofield had benefitted from more than £526,147 due to his criminal conduct, but his current realisable assets are less than that sum. Despite this, the revenue has said that it will be able to pursue any future wealth.

HMRC fraud investigation service assistant director Zoe Ellerbeck said: “Schofield knew he was breaking the law but thought he could get away with ripping off honest taxpayers. He’s already in jail and now he’s facing the financial consequences of his criminal behaviour. Our work doesn’t finish when a fraudster is jailed, we stop criminals profiting from their crimes and recover the money to fund public services.

“If Schofield doesn’t pay back what he owes, he faces even more time behind bars - and will still owe the money. Tax fraud is a serious crime and I ask anyone with information about possible fraudsters to report it online or contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

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