Woman to face trial after denying fraud charges relating to Gainsborough company

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A woman is to go on trial after she denied a £65,000 VAT fraud relating to a Gainsborough heating and plumbing company.

Anna Louise Saxby-Spence also pleaded not guilty to three charges of fraud relating to obtaining tax credits.

The 44-year-old entered four not guilty pleas when she appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, July 7.

It is alleged Saxby-Spence under-declared her household income relating to the obtaining of tax credit payments between April 6, 2007 and April 5, 2009.

She faces two similar charges of under declaring her household income for tax credits between April 6, 2011 and April 5, 2012, and April 6, 2014 and April 5, 2015.

Saxby-Spence is also accused of providing false information on VAT returns relating to the evasion of £65,824.53.

The offence is alleged to have occurred between September 11, 2012 and April 30, 2015 and relates to RAS Plumbing and Heating based in Middlefield Lane, Gainsborough.

Howard Ewing, prosecuting, said the Crown would seek a trial following the not guilty pleas.

Judge Michael Heath adjourned the case for a trial to be listed at Lincoln Crown Court on April 9, next year.

It is expected to last five days.

Saxby-Spence, of Middlefield Lane, Gainsborough, was granted unconditional bail until her trial.

Judge Heath told her: “I am going to adjourn your case for trial. That will start on April 9, 2018.

“I will extend your bail. You can go now and come back on April 9.”