LONDON Mar. 29 (People's Daily Online) -- A British woman who lied to avoid paying more than half a million pounds inheritance tax after her wealthy aunt’s death has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Following the death of her aunt’s death in 2010, Theresa Bunn, 56, told HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that the estate was worth around £285,000, which is below the threshold for paying inheritance tax. However, an investigation later revealed the estate was worth more than £1.5 million.

Stuart Taylor, Assistant Director, HMRC, said: "Theresa Bunn had the benefit of large amounts of cash and lied purely to avoid paying tax. The vast majority of us pay what is due, when it is due, but HMRC will not tolerate tax fraud and will investigate those we suspect of operating outside the law."

Bunn was charged with cheating the Public Revenue contrary to Common Law on 3 April 2014 and admitted the offence on 9 March 2015. She was sentenced today 10 March 2015 at Chichester Crown Court.