A murderer has been awarded £310,000 from the taxman while in jail, after launching his legal bid from his prison cell.
Ian Workman is currently serving a life sentence after stabbing his wife Sue through the heart at their luxury home in April 2011.
But the businessman and former millionaire lodged a complicated VAT claim for his business – IGW Group in Bolton and Blackburn, which he built up over nearly 30 years.
And a ruling has now been issued on the £310,000 claim by a judge, after Workman gave evidence to the tribunal via a video link.
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Workman insisted he was owed the money in overpayments, using established case law covering motor traders being incorrectly charged VAT by HM Revenue and Customs on demonstrator vehicles and manufacturers bonuses.
Judge Jonathan Cannan ruled that 111 cars would have been eligible, as part of the claim, when the business was at its peak in 1994 and 1995.
He told the tribunal his figures were based on the vehicles being replaced three times a year, and not four, as Workman had contended, and he could not follow why 30 courtesy vehicles were required for the bodyshop so reduced that figure to 15.
Judge Cannan added: "I am satisfied that Mr Workman was very knowledgeable about the business generally.
"That is to be expected, as he was the driving force behind IGW Group."
The case is not the first time Workman has been embroiled in legal proceedings since his 2011 incarceration.
Three years ago he was ordered to pay two of his sons, Ben and Nicholas, £1.5million after he had killed their mother during a divorce row to avoid paying her half of his fortune.
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