Debt collector escapes jail over unpaid £26,800 tax bill

Joanne Staniforth was working as a self-employed debt collector for payday lender Provident Credit, having been recruited after she ran up debts with the company of more than £10,000.

Staniforth, of Highthorn Road, Kilnhurst, sobbed throughout the hearing at Sheffield Crown Court after she admitted evading an income tax bill totalling £26,800.

Judge Mark Gargan said the offences were committed when austerity was hitting many people in South Yorkshire.

The judge told her: “This is a case where you simply failed to join in the system.

“It’s not optional, it’s important because the very foundation of society is about people paying what they should.

“Your decision to opt-out was simply outrageous.”

Staniforth was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for 12 months and handed a ten month curfew order.

Mr Ian Goldsack, for Staniforth, told the court she did not realise she was required by law to declare her earnings for the years she worked for Provident from February, 2008, to February, 2015.

He said she had “buried her head in the sand” by not filing tax returns which could have been offset by business expenses travelling to see customers.

“She did not live the high life as a result of her tax evasion, but instead used it as a means of survival during an economic downturn,” he said.