North Bersted woman in court in VAT fraud trial

28-year-old Kelly Drew, of Maple Gardens, did not enter a plea to the charge at Chichester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, June 18.

Standing in the dock next to her was her boss David Reynolds who allegedly failed to declare hundreds of thousands of pounds in VAT to HM Revenue and Customs.

The 43-year-old company director, of Brighton Road, Hassocks, faced four money-laundering charges relating to two of his three satellite TV equipment warranty firms.

Prosecuters claimed on August 12, 2005, the family man declared just 24,000 in VAT when it should have been 220,000 and on November 18, 2005, just 4,000 of 207,000.

Both charges relate to his Home Care Service Agreements firm.

He is also alleged to have evaded 240,000 of VAT from Satciver Ltd between Jan 20, 2004, and March 31, 2007, and arranged for up to 62,000 of VAT that should have been handed to HM Revenue and Customs, to instead be paid to Miss Drew's personal account for her to deal with.

He did not enter a plea to the charges.

The charges follow a lengthy 12-month investigation into the firms that Reynolds runs from Ford.

The case was adjourned for committal to Chichester Crown Court on August 27.

Drew and Reynolds were released on conditional bail and must surrender their passports to police.

An earlier website report suggested Mrs Drew was in court facing a VAT fraud charge. This was incorrect and we apologise for the error.

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