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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/gunman-faced-25000-tax-bill.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Derrick Bird faced an estimated tax bill of 25,000 pounds but was 'financially secure', an inquest heard" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/min-gunman-faced-25000-tax-bill.jpg" alt="Derrick Bird faced an estimated tax bill of 25,000 pounds but was 'financially secure', an inquest heard"/></a></p>
<p>Derrick Bird faced an estimated maximum tax bill of £25,000 but was &#8220;financially secure&#8221; and had savings of more than £50,000, an inquest has heard.</p>
<p>The gunman who killed 12 people before he shot himself dead had been convinced he was going to prison over his tax affairs.</p>
<p>Less than a fortnight before the shootings in West Cumbria on June 2, an accountant informed him he would not be going to jail over the matter but he did not appear to listen to the advice.</p>
<p>Self-employed taxi driver Bird, 52, met Peter Ellwood after the HMRC began an investigation into his self assessment tax returns. He told Mr Ellwood that he thought he had under-declared his income and was liable to pay more tax.</p>
<p>The accountant told the inquests into the 13 deaths that his client might have to pay a maximum &#8220;worst case&#8221; figure of £25,000 if the investigators trawled back 15 years to when Bird first became a taxi driver.</p>
<p>When Bird was told of the figure, Mr Ellwood said: &#8220;He just seemed more concerned about losing his house. I tried to give him comfort that his house was never at risk. I think I said at the time that he would not go to prison. He was on the radar of the Revenue, it was not a big case.&#8221;</p>
<p>He said Bird did not appear to be listening throughout the meeting at his office and was &#8220;anxious&#8221; when he left.</p>
<p>Another meeting was later set up between the men and solicitor Kevin Commons &#8211; one of Bird&#8217;s victims &#8211; who initially referred him to Mr Ellwood. It was due to take place at Mr Commons&#8217;s offices in Workington at 3pm on the day of the shootings.</p>
<p>Later the hearing at Energus at Workington was told by Detective Constable Catherine Rogerson, financial investigator for Cumbria Constabulary, that Bird had not lived beyond his means and led a moderate lifestyle.</p>
<p>She said: &#8220;I can conclude that he appeared to have no money worries and was financially secure.&#8221;</p>
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