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.
MOUTH OPEN wide, this little stoat appears to be in mid-song as he belts out a tune for his onlookers .
This was the chaotic scene when the driver of a 4x4 vehicle became periously trapped under his vehicle for an HOUR when it overturned after a crash on a busy motorway .
Enjoying life’s little pleasures is something that many struggle to do .
FORGET Thorpe Park this summer as this is a 50 mile-per-hour ride over the Colorado River CANYON .
SPLASHING in the water and fighting in-between rocks, these energetic tigers enjoy their fun-filled morning .
From a floating jelly fish to a relaxed seal, Britain’s unappreciated beach life is captured above and below the water .
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 .
The rock restaurant, located in Zanzibar – THIS unique restaurant really does boast breath-taking views - as it is perched on a rock in the middle of the sea .
A cricket perches on an unusual seat after crawling up the snout of a crocodile .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .
THESE LOVE BIRDS can’t keep their beaks off each other as they share a very public display of affection .
Sam Notaro built his own flood defences to protect his four-bedroom home in Moorland, Somerset Flooding is likely to get worse around Somerset as groundwater levels continue to rise .