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Director claimed £140k in fake HGV journeys
The Gazette
|December 17, 2025
A FORMER director turned fraudster from Stockton who made up fictional lorry drivers and billed fake HGV journeys to pay off his drug debt has been jailed.
Matthew Eeles
Matthew Eeles, also spelled Eales in court documents, was slapped with a suspended sentence after admitting fraud totalling £140,381.30.
Earlier this year, the now 40-yearold walked free from court but with a two-year suspended sentence hanging over his head. And now, after failing to comply with the order, he's been jailed for a total of 23 months and two weeks.
From the dock, Eeles brought his hands to his head in apparent disbelief as he learned his fate yesterday. Sentencing Eeles, Judge Jonathan Carroll said: "I have no doubt whatsoever the judge that sentenced you would have made it clear to you the consequences of non-compliance ... you have deceived, you have lied."
This story is from the December 17, 2025 edition of The Gazette.
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