My mate jailed

[timwilky]

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/chippy_sta..._bill_1_978616


OK, he is hardly a criminal deserving of jailing, Simply a hard working (12 hour days for the past 30 years) guy in a cash industry and from a culture that does not pay tax (North African).

Why is it that you can batter somebody and get a fine, fail to pay the government what they want out of your earnings and you get sent to jail.

I am willing to bet, the vast majority of this is his life savings.

So, do I go and visit him and make an offer to run his chippy, No wonder he had so much, it is the best one locally.

[Red Herring]

You're right, I'm sure the smuggling charge had no bearing on the sentence..... If he wants to continue not paying tax perhaps he ought to go and live in North Africa? The entire structure of our country is being slowly eroded by this take take take attitude and I have no problem with seeing someone who has clearly been cheating the system for some considerable time paying the ultimate price. If you can't live by the rules of our society then be prepared to be excluded from it.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by Red Herring

You're right, I'm sure the smuggling charge had no bearing on the sentence..... If he wants to continue not paying tax perhaps he ought to go and live in North Africa? The entire structure of our country is being slowly eroded by this take take take attitude and I have no problem with seeing someone who has clearly been cheating the system for some considerable time paying the ultimate price. If you can't live by the rules of our society then be prepared to be excluded from it.

This^^^

You play the game, you run the risk of getting caught


The good players know how far they can push the limits of tax avoidance without reaching the threshold of evasion

This guy clearly couldn't play the game...

Yeah he's much more dangerous than a paedophile (!) this country was f**ked years ago, our criminal justice system needs a serious shake up as it stands its farcical and I for on have absolutely zero faith in it.

Originally Posted by svdemon

Yeah he's much more dangerous than a paedophile (!)..

Now thats a statement.

I bet you'd tell traffic cops to "go catch real criminals" as well.

If the Police do not pursue criminals (and this man is one) they get stick. and then People like you come along and give them stick for actually doing their job anyway.

Damned if the do damned if the don't.

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by svdemon

Yeah he's much more dangerous than a paedophile (!) this country was f**ked years ago, our criminal justice system needs a serious shake up as it stands its farcical and I for on have absolutely zero faith in it.

Has nothing to do with how dangerous he is. Has to do with there being laws in place that have been broken over such a long time.

People having zero faith in the criminal justice system that then moan when this system jails a man that has evaded tax payments for such a considerable amount of time have no valid argument IMO.

Tim, I do feel for your mate as he's done what all of us would love to do if we could and that is keep the money we earn. But I pay 40% tax on the majority of my earnings and have done for the last 7 years as a self employed person. Sometimes my tax bill would make me sick...but I paid it, so hearing of others hiding their money in order to avoid paying that tax is pretty flipping annoying.

I would have more sympathy if he didn't know what he was doing, but he clearly knew it was wrong as he's gone to some lengths over quite some time to hide it.....so as others have said, play the game, live by the consequences!

If I were you, yeah, I'd go and offer to run the chippy while he's inside and when he gets out, by doing it lawfully, you'll have started building up his savings again....legally. Plus, free fish and chips when you want

[tonyk]

IMHO....
he is not a criminal, just a person that just does not want to pay tax................
so when i do my 12 hour shift and get so tired that i forget which day it is i should do as he does just dont pay tax...
cool......
paying tax is pretty flipping annoying...
spose some folk have to do it.

Originally Posted by Red Herring

You're right, I'm sure the smuggling charge had no bearing on the sentence..... If he wants to continue not paying tax perhaps he ought to go and live in North Africa? The entire structure of our country is being slowly eroded by this take take take attitude and I have no problem with seeing someone who has clearly been cheating the system for some considerable time paying the ultimate price. If you can't live by the rules of our society then be prepared to be excluded from it.

+1 for this.

if we all avoided paying taxes then the country would be even more screwed that it currently is. break the law if you want to but you then have to be prepared to take the consequences.

[Bri w]

Is the issue the sentence compared with sentences for other crimes?

The way I see it is I've paid my taxes etc towards supporting the things this country needs, whether it be the welfware state or whatever. People like said chippy has meant the burden has fallen on others, in other words by robbing the state he's robbed me.

Yes, some sentences for other crimes/criminals needs addresssing but as for said chippy, he's got what he deserved.

And when he comes out I'd quite happily help him onto the plane back to Africa. If he has no respect for this country and its rules then why should we allow him to stay?

[skeetly]

Originally Posted by gruntygiggles

I pay 40% tax on the majority of my earnings and have done for the last 7 years as a self employed person.

Bloody el. Well done!
Don't believe I've ever made enough to pay 40%............

As to the chippy owner; looks to me like he made a pile of money selling smuggled bacco. What can you say? He basically broke the law and got caught.
I bet he paid tax on the proceeds of the chippy so that will help to pay for his stay inside.