Barrister Andrew Hill accused of not paying £210,000 tax
A barrister has been accused of failing to pay £210,000 in VAT.
Andrew Hill, 51 from Ealing in west London, who worked at Old Bailey Chambers, denies one count of cheating the public revenue.
The jury at the Old Bailey was told he charged VAT on his fees but did not pay Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) any VAT between 2004 and 2011.
The court heard he was self-employed and was obliged to register for VAT because of the amount he earned.
Prosecutor Andrew Marshall said: "Between 2004 and 2011 Mr Hill was in private practice as a barrister, issuing VAT invoices for his daily work.
"He collected VAT on all of these fees but he made no quarterly returns and he failed to account for all of that VAT.
"He kept that VAT for himself, it wasn't his. He seems to have spent it."
Mr Marshall told the court that Mr Hill paid for private education for his children as well as going to restaurants and on holiday.
The jury was told Mr Hill had said in a statement he was "badly organised" when it came to finances and that he had paid the VAT after his arrest.
The trial continues.