TWO Hampshire publicans, who stole £60,000 of VAT by faking invoices for non-existent refurbishments to pubs they ran, have been sentenced.

Mark Hogg, 51, and Nicolina Collings, 59, ran four pubs in Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey.

Over two-and-a-half years they made 16 VAT repayment claims, telling HM Revenue and Customs that the refunds were due mainly for pub refurbishment work.

However, when HMRC officers requested paperwork the business partners handed over fake purchase invoices.

In total HMRC investigators discovered 75 fake invoices; 55 from Hogg and 20 from Collings.

The four pubs run by Hogg and Collings during the period of the fraud included The Barley Mow in Alton.

John Cooper, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Hogg and Collings worked together to commit VAT fraud and steal taxpayers’ money. In a vain attempt to get themselves off the hook they produced false invoices but were naïve to think they could get away with it.

“Anyone with information about VAT fraud should contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000.”

In January 2015 both pleaded not guilty to the fraud. Hogg changed his plea to guilty in June 2015 and Collings in July 2015.

They both live in Blackwater, Hampshire, and were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court last Friday, September 18.

Hogg was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 275 hours of unpaid work.

Nicolina Collings was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. She must complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

The fraud totalled £60,556, with £48,076 falsely claimed by Mark Hogg and £12,480 claimed by Nicolina Collings. HMRC is seeking to recover the criminal proceeds.

HMRC has pointed out that no members of staff were involved in the fraud.