“It took nine months, two interviews and more time than I care to think about to come to a conclusion over a £10 book.”

Petty and Pedantic

In the first interview I attended (22 November 2005) Enquiry Officer Steve Coomber asked about a David Beckham book that I had claimed as an expense, “Did you do an article on David Beckham?” He asked. I immediately gave the following very full answer, “No, but I tried very hard to get an interview with him… I specifically went to the FA building in Soho Square and I waited outside for the manager and bought a small gift, a chocolate orange and I gave that to him with a note in the hope in the hope of getting some sort of interview.”

Despite giving this full answer (and showing newspaper cuttings to illustrate that I had a track record of interviewing celebrities) four months later (21 March 2006) HM Inspector of Taxes Jacqui Lamper was still unsatisfied,  “Are there any documents to show that you purchased the David Beckham book in the belief that you would get to interview him? Otherwise there is nothing that shows that it was not purchased for your own enjoyment…” She went on to say she was also concerned that I might have given the book to somebody as a gift or sold it on eBay.

In the end it took nine months, two interviews and more time than I care to think about to come to a conclusion over this simple issue: claiming a £10 book as an expense. This bullish and petty attitude has been characteristic of the entire investigation.