Haulage firm directors deny conspiracy to defraud tax man of £50k
The directors of a struggling goods distribution company are standing trial accused of defrauding the tax man to the tune of more than £50,000.
Paul Edward Cockayne, Martyn Sviter and Sallyanne Cockayne, of Lightning Express Warehousing and Distribution Ltd based at Anglo African Industrial Estate, in Union Road Oldbury, are accused of two counts of conspiring to evade value added tax (VAT) between 2009 and 2016.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the storage and haulage firm had evaded paying VAT in the sum of £52,000 and that each of the defendants were part of an agreement to provide false documents.
Angus McDonald, prosecuting, said: "These defendants were collectively responsible for running a business which stored and distributed goods. That business was initially called Lightning Express then the name changed to Lightning Express Warehousing and Distribution Ltd.
"That business over time was struggling and generated little profit for those behind it."
