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 kingfisher’s bright blue and orange feathers glisten in the sunlight as the bird dives into a lake .
A little brown bear cub shows his doting mum that she is always on parent duty as he uses her as a scratching post .
THIS is the awesome moment an Osprey catches its prey travelling at 50mph, giving new meaning to FAST FOOD .
The view from this rooftop pool is sure to make most holidaymakers envious .
WELCOME to the pretty 122-inch-tall red dwelling that lays claim to the title of the UK's smallest house .
NEW DELHI, A woman activist of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party crosses a police barricade near the residence of ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi during a protest against the recent rape of a five-year-old girl in New Delhi, India, April 21, 2013 .
SOME OF the sea’s most terrifying creatures show their softer side as they join a group of diners for lunch .
DIVING down at a speed of 75mph, this is the moment a hungry osprey caught his prey .
THIS BIGFOOT 'Jesus bird' may look silly, but he's perfectly designed for walking on water .
An intrepid explorer hopes to be reunited with his travel partner, after his cuddly toy companion was stolen .
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 .