Addresses searched amid Stowmarket Apostle Accounting probe

The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) confirmed a series of pre-planned warrants were carried out on Tuesday.

They were in relation to Apostle Accounting, which was based at Marriotts Walk in Stowmarket before it was wound up last year.

ERSOU said investigators attended two residential homes and a commercial unit in Stowmarket, as well as an office in Peterborough.

Searches were conducted at all four addresses, with documents and digital devices seized.

No arrests were made, and enquiries are ongoing.

Al Al-Bassam, from ERSOU’s Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “These searches form part of our investigation into reports of potential fraud, and we continue to follow several lines of enquiry.

Apostle was wound up last year, it emerged (Image: Newsquest)

“Our teams are working closely with partner agencies to establish if any offences have been committed, and we would encourage anyone who thinks they may be a victim of fraud to report it.”

Last year, this newspaper reported that Apostle was being probed by ERSOU after ex-clients revealed they had been told to repay tax returns they had claimed through the firm.

The company, founded by Zoe Goodchild in 2012, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing over the matter, while HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has said individuals are responsible for their own tax affairs.

Several of its clients previously told this newspaper they used Apostle to claim a tax refund – some to the tune of thousands of pounds, with the firm taking a 20% cut – only for HMRC to later say they were not entitled to the money.

In February, ERSOU revealed it had contacted about 300 former Apostle clients as part of the investigation.

The saga even featured in an episode of the BBC One show Rip Off Britain last autumn.

ERSOU said anyone who believes they may have been defrauded should contact Action Fraud.