A BUTCHER who set up three bogus businesses in the names of characters from popular TV series The Simpsons was jailed for four years yesterday.

Shaun David Stockhill appeared at York Crown Court alongside his wife, Lyn-Marie, to plead guilty to their roles in a £292,000 tax fraud.

She was given a 240-hour community service order.

Stockhill, of Durlston Drive, Strensall, near York, registered three butcher's shops between 2000 and 2001, using the names of characters from the show.

The first of three businesses were registered under the names of Harry John Simpson, after Homer Jay Simpson, the head of the Simpsons household.

The others were registered under Shaun Barry Gumble, after Barney Gumble, Homer's heavy-drinking friend, and Colin Michael Burns, after Colin Montgomery Burns, Homer's boss at the nuclear power plant.

A Customs and Excise spokeswoman said the fraud came to light when financial irregularities were found in Stockhill's accounting.

She said that, because Stockhill was subject to bankruptcy proceedings, he used his wife to set up bank accounts to receive and disperse payments.

The spokeswoman said: "During 2000 and 2001, Shaun Stockhill registered three businesses using names of characters from The Simpsons television programme.

"All three businesses were entirely bogus, devoid of any trading activity and set up deliberately to obtain false VAT repayments from HM Customs and Excise."

The investigation into Stockhill's business activities began early last year, and he was arrested on April 10.

Six years ago, he owned six butchers' shops and employed 20 people at premises in York, Hull, Scarborough, Wetherby and Boroughbridge.