The former director of a Blackburn engineering company is to stand trial after denying multiple counts of tax fraud.

Philip Gostling, who was in charge of the former Metallurgical Processing Limited in Stancliffe Street, before it closed in 2018, appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday (March 27) charged with three counts of tax fraud and perverting the course of justice.

Gostling of Priest Bank Road, Kildwick, in Keighley, West Yorkshire, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of VAT between January 2013 and May 2018, and July 2016 and March 2018.

He also denied carrying on the business of a company with intent to defraud creditors or for other fraudulent purposes, between October 2014 and April 2018 in Keighley.

This charge relates to the alleged submission to HMRC of fraudulent claims for a corporation tax rebate under the research and development tax relief scheme in respect of a number of companies which were under his control.

Additionally, the 53-year-old entered a not guilty plea to committing an act with intent to pervert the course of public justice.

That charge relates to an alleged offence which took place in Keighley on August 31, 2018, in which Gostling is accused of asking a man called David Williams to delete all his data from a company server.

A trial date of November 17, 2025, was set and is expected to last between one and two days.

Gostling was released on unconditional bail until his next court appearance which is on November 1.