Wall Heath businessman told he could be jailed for fuel racket (From Stourbridge News)

Wall Heath businessman told he could be jailed for fuel racket

5:01pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in News

A WALL Heath businessman who illegally sold large quantities of kerosene as road fuel has been warned by a judge he could be facing a jail term.

Gavyn Jewkes had conceded a "significant" amount of kerosene was involved but maintained he intended to call a halt to the illegal operation after taking a final delivery shortly before his arrest last year.

The 33-year-old who operated from the Central Trading Estate in Shaw Road, Dudley, admitted making 20p a litre on the deals which avoided duty.

The racket was started by his father David who died in September 2010 and Gavyn Jewkes then took control of the business and continued the illegal sales..

Jewkes, of Claydon Road, admitted knowingly being involved in the fraudulent evasion of duty between May 2008 and July 2011 through the sale of kerosene.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report until a date to be fixed next month and told by Judge Robin Onions: "All options remain open including custody."

No evidence was presented to the hearing but, in an agreed basis of plea, John Attwood, defending, said: "This was a family business initially run by David Jewkes and his son has no idea of the proportion of kerosene that was sold illegally."

He told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "This continued after the death of David Jewkes who made a profit of 20p a litre."

Mr Attwood, in the statement, said David Jewkes started a haulage business as a sole trader that was dissolved in September 2009 and Gavyn Jewkes had worked for him from the age of 21 doing odd jobs and being paid in cash.

Mr Jewkes senior started to trade fuel around 2007 and his son drove vehicles for him from 2008 - the year he was warned by Revenue and Customs about the use of kerosene.

Mr Attwood said: "They were selling some of the kerosene as road fuel and knew this was illegal," he who told the court that Mr Jewkes senior ran another business called Jewbay International.

Following his death this firm was taken over by his son who continued to sell kerosene as road fuel although, he stressed, not all the purchases were illegal.

Emma Jones 33, also from Claydon Road denied being involved in the fraudulent evasion of duty and Stuart Clarkson for the prosecution agreed not to proceed in her case.

The court was told Jewkes could be facing a further hearing next year under the Proceeds of Crime Act that may result in his assets being seized.