Parent Might go to prison

[RedCrab]

I don't want to go into too much detail as I'm really paranoid. But I'll give what info I can - my mother is going to be charged with cheating the revenue. She was working for someone else as their accountant and forced into doing things for him. He profitted from it in that it was his business but it's looking like he will get away Scott free. There's lots of details why she was bullied but we're not sure how much the mitigating factors will drag her back from a custodial sentence.

I'm just...really scared for her. She's 60. She's never so much had a parking ticket in her life. I don't know anyone who's veen to prison. I just don't know how to comfort her.

She's going to be formerly charged soon and we have a lot of character witnesses willing to say he has form for tax avoidance but we're just so scared he's going to pin it all on her and because she's the accountant, she'll get a heavy sentence. I'm just so scared for her. I don't know what im looking for in posting this. But I just feel so sick with worry and stress. I can't imagine how she feels.

[Seriouslyffs]

You must be beside yourself. If one of my parents had to go to prison I'd definitely want it it be my mum- only because women's prisons are humane places. She'd be treated with respect by staff and inmates alike.
I hope that's some comfort.

[LotusLight]

Also make sure you distinguish tax avoidance - a perfectly lawful activity and tax evasion - a crime. Your post above suggests you may not know the difference.

[RedCrab]

I don't know anything about it! I don't understand any of it and that's why it's so scary and we feel so powerless! We are dependent on what we are being told by solicitors.

It's less about the details and more just she might go to prison and she's terrified. Her boss has form for this. I can't go into the details but he does and she is fast becoming the fall guy. It's an absolute mess. He bullied and harassed and manipulated and lied to her. Refused to let her in on meetings with HMRC so was dependent on what he said was the outcome and he lied over and over. She has no possible to reason to do what she's accused of, no gains or profit.

I just wanted to talk to someone about her possibly recieving a custodial sentence. How to help her. I just can't believe this is happening. She's in a very vulnerable state of mind and I feel so powerless.

[lalalonglegs]

It's pretty unlikely that she would be jailed, isn't it? Especially as she did not benefit from any of the malpractice. Has her solicitor or the authorities suggested that she might be looking at a prison sentence?