Derry accountant jailed after he's convicted of £70,000 fraud case

A 46-year-old Derrry accountant convicted of defrauding a total of £70,000 has been sentenced to six months in prison.

James Heaney, of Spruce Meadows, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of fraud between October 1, 2011, and May 26, 2013.

Heaney falsely claimed he was the director of Hillbilly's Chicken in Derry and made false VAT returns claiming thousands of pounds for himself by changing the name on the cheques.

He also falsely applied for mortgages in his children's names on properties in Drumleck Drive and Elmwood Terrace.

He provided false earning details for his children and told Lloyds Bank that the properties were for residential purposes but then rented them to students.

Heaney himself alerted HMRC to inaccurate VAT returns.

The bank had also noticed irregularities in cheques he tried to cash and refused.

Crown Court Judge Stephen Fowler said he had taken all matters into account but noted the aggravating features.

He said there were breach of trust matters as Heaney had been acting as a trainee accountant for friends but claimed he was the director of the business to prevent the actual directors seeing the records.

Judge Fowler also said there was premeditation and that the money was used to commit further fraud through the buying of properties.

Heaney was given a 12month sentence, six months of which will be spent in prison and the other six on licence.

The court confiscation orders have been postponed.