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.
FINALLY catching a meal, a pair of great white egrets fight over their dinner .
JUDGE BLASTED FOR LETTING PAEDO WALK FREE A PERVERT who sexually assaulted two young girls on an allotment, telling them he was brushing spiders off them, has walked free from court – because jailing him was ‘unfair’ on his family .
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .
THESE LOVE BIRDS can’t keep their beaks off each other as they share a very public display of affection .
Ever wished you could live in a house just like Barbie's? Canadian sculptor Heather Benning has created the life-size dollhouse of her dreams out a derelict building .
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
From squids to Star Wars, these flipping marvellous creations are pancake portraits .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .
SPARKLING bright inside their box, it’s hard to believe these diamonds are made from the cremated remains of the deceased .
Complete with core, mantle and crust, these incredible planet cakes are truly out of this world .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
Splashing around in the water, a mother otter and her son are tangled in a family feud .