Tax-cheat Farnsfield beautician handed suspended jail term

Farnsfield mother-of-one Rebecca Eddishaw, 30, failed to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that she had income from renting out two properties when claiming tax credits.

Stuart Taylor, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said: “Eddishaw knowingly carried out this fraud for four years. She purposefully left out her extra income so that she would receive higher tax credits payments, while also failing to pay tax on the rent money she received.

“HMRC recognises it is only a minority that are exploiting the system but we would encourage anyone with information relating to tax credit fraud to call 0800 854 440.”

Between 2009 and 2013, Eddishaw received a higher rate of tax credit and was overpaid by almost £16,941. She also failed to declare any earnings from her properties, meaning she avoided paying more than £13,797 in tax.

Eddishaw was handed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Nottingham Crown Court today after pleading guilty to three charges at an earlier hearing. She was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.