Chippenham Man Jailed for 5½ Years Over Massive Fraud Spree
From Partner Split to Property Fraud
Oliver Cooper, 33, of Chippenham, has been sentenced to over five years in prison after a string of serious fraud offences. The trouble began in May 2022 when Cooper split from his partner. Just two months later, he forged digital signatures to unlawfully alter property equity they jointly owned. This scam left his ex-partner out of pocket by roughly £71,000.
Cunning Scheme Uncovered by Wiltshire Police
The fraud was swiftly uncovered after reports to Wiltshire Police, who launched a robust investigation. Despite facing charges, Cooper dragged out court proceedings across criminal and civil cases for more than two years.
“Financial abuse is a form of domestic violence… The police are fully equipped to investigate and identify methods of financial abuse,” said Acting Detective Sergeant Martyn Powell.
VAT Fraud and Money Laundering Adds to Jail Time
Cooper’s criminal activities didn’t stop there. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) probed his cleaning business for fraudulent VAT claims between July 2019 and March 2022. Cooper admitted to a whopping £200,000 VAT fraud and money laundering offenses at Swindon Crown Court.
He also pleaded guilty to forging fake documents and trying to access frozen bank accounts. For this, he received an additional two years and nine months behind bars.
HMRC Cracks Down on Tax Cheats
Matt Moignard, HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service lead, said: “Fraudsters like Cooper think they can lie, cheat, and steal. We’re determined to create a level playing field and bring tax crooks to justice.”
The total sentence of five and a half years sends a strong message. Financial abuse and tax fraud will not be tolerated. Authorities urge victims and whistleblowers to come forward to help crack down on these crimes.
