A man who conned tax officials out of £34 million and funded a lavish lifestyle of luxury hotels and restaurants has been jailed for one of the longest sentences in British criminal fraud history. Thomas Scragg, 56, was jailed for a total of 17 years following three separate fraud convictions against HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) ~ the latest, in March 2011, for stealing millions of pounds in employee PAYE tax. The conman from Solihull, West Mids. used his business Moya Payroll which managed staff wages of construction industry companies to steal over £26m in tax over a five year period between 2002 and 2007. Other investigations revealed a further £8m of stolen PAYE tax in a 10-month period from April 2007 to February 2008.His co-defendant, Paul Phillips from Derbyshire, was jailed for nine years.The latest conviction for offences in March 2011, followed a joint investigation by West Midlands Police and HMRC.The extent of Scragg's racket has remained a secret until now as cases against his two henchmen Carl Johnson, 49, and his brother Anthony, 51, from Wolverhampton progressed through court.
A photographer has captured stunning photographs of the Milky Way above picturesque landscapes in the UK and Italy .
THIS is the shocking moment a clumsy radio newsreader plunged into a freezing canal while texting her boyfriend instead of looking where she was going .
Sprawled out on top of a log, this sleeping leopard takes a relaxing break from his daily routine .
WITH THEIR adorable big round eyes and fluffy white fur, these baby seals are cute enough to melt any heart .
RAISING his flipper, this two day old seal pup gives a wave to the camera .
THIS LITTLE squirrel tries to keep himself snug as snow starts to fall around him .
FLYING through the air, these delighted pooches pull their best poses mid-flight .
COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice .
FINALLY catching a meal, a pair of great white egrets fight over their dinner .
This starling and prairie dog will not back down an inch as they have a fearsome stand-off over who gets to eat a nut .
COULD this be the most distastrous wedding cake fail EVER? Most brides opt for a traditional tiered white wedding cake decorated with delicate pink roses and lace for their big day .
Kevin Silva, 52 from Indiana in the USA, has spent an estimated £65K ($100K) on Batman trinkets over the years, and even keeps his 2,500-item haul in his very own basement 'Bat Cave' .