Jail term threat to tax cheats

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Friday 2nd Jan 2004.

TWO council tax dodgers have been handed suspended sentences for running up four- figure deficits.

John Clegg, of The Ship Inn, Trowbridge and Natalie Burton of Greenland View, Bradford on Avon, avoided an immediate jail term despite owing more than £5,500 between them.

Burton was handed a three-month suspended sentence by magistrates in Chippenham after being found guilty of culpable neglect for running up a £3,309.37 tax deficit.

Clegg was given a 45-day suspended sentence for dodging £2,093.51 in bills.

Both will face imprisonment if they fail to maintain a £100-a-month repayment until the debts are cleared.

Cllr Roy While, corporate portfolio holder, said: "If you don't pay you could go to prison."

Both Burton and Clegg appeared before magistrates on December 16.

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