A GREEDY accountant pocketed £189,000 of her client’s money which she was supposed to hand over to HMRC to pay their tax bills.
Over a five-year period Julie Booth abused the trust of doctors who appointed her to take care of their tax affairs and kept the money herself.
Booth, who uses a wheelchair, appeared at Bolton Crown Court and admitted three counts of fraud.
The court heard that she had falsely claimed to police that she had cancer and was receiving chemotherapy but denied perverting the course of justice.
Booth, who lives in a luxury detached home at The Highgrove, Lostock, admitted fraud by dishonestly abusing her position as a provider of accountancy services and failing to pay the self-assessment tax returns for Richard and Rebecca Keld relating to their company, Ribeck Gastro Ltd between September 2014 and December 2019.
She also pleaded guilty to fraud between January 2016 and December 2019, by abusing her position and failing to pay the self-assessment tax returns for Gurvinder Banait’s company, Specialist GI Services Ltd.
And she admitted fraud between January 31, 2018 and February 27, 2018 by making a claim for repayment from HMRC on behalf of Dr Banait.
Booth, aged 56, denied perverting the course of justice between December 21, 2019 and May 11, 2021 by delaying or obstructing a police investigation into her crimes by claiming she was suffering from cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.
Philip Hall, prosecuting, told the court that the pleas are acceptable to the prosecution and so no trial is needed but, at her sentencing hearing, false cancer claims will form part of the Crown’s case.
“The Crown would submit that the delay in the investigation has caused additional harm to the victims both emotionally and financially as interest has been added to the debt that they owe to HMRC,” said Mr Hall.
Clare Ashcroft, defending, said a psychiatrist will be asked to review Booth’s mental health records for a report to be presented to the probation service and judge prior to sentence.
The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh told Booth, who has no previous convictions, that she will be sentenced on September 22 and granted her bail in the meantime.
“The fact that I am extending your bail and ordering the preparation of reports is no indication as to the sentence which may follow on September 22,” he said.
“All sentencing options will be open to the judge who deals with the matter on that day.”
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