Game machine brothers avoid jail

8:50pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News

Two brothers who ran amusement arcades in Sussex and Kent without paying £170,000 in duty have avoided a jail sentence.

George and Joseph Gess’s gamble failed when officers from Revenue and Customs (HMRC) seized 86 illegally operated gaming machines from their premises last year.

In June officials visited four amusement arcades in Bognor, Brighton, Crawley and Tunbridge Wells, seizing the machines and more than £19,000 in cash.

George Gess, 39, and Joseph Gess, 45, both of Fairfield, Eastergate Lane, Walberton, near Arundel, were arrested.

At Lewes Crown Court George Gess was given a 15-month suspended sentence and was ordered to do 180 hours’ community service. Joseph Gess was given a 12-month suspended sentence and was ordered to do 100 hours’ community service.

David Margree, an assistant director from HMRC, said: “Gaming machine operators are legally required to pay gaming duty.”

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Comments(6)

NickBtn says...
10:16pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Did they also have to pay the £170,000 of duty avoided? If not, the 280 hours of community service seems like a great deal - over £600 per hour!

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mimseycal says...
11:08pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Yes milor' We'll gladly do 280 hours community service at £600. per hour.

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Brightonian1966 says...
11:53pm Tue 5 Feb 13

That will teach them!they won't do that again.

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Skidrow says...
7:59am Wed 6 Feb 13

Well if they do get caught doing that again, thats when the suspended sentence kicks in.

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Pitviper says...
8:09am Wed 6 Feb 13

Skidrow wrote:
Well if they do get caught doing that again, thats when the suspended sentence kicks in.
Any other misdemeanour will kick the suspended sentence into action, doesn't have to be the same crime.

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Sussex jim says...
7:21pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Confiscation of property and disqualification of ever running a business is the only answer.
They may still be lucky enough to get jobs at their age, but with criminal records and no assets they can look forward to a life of rented accommodation and no company pension.

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