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.
WELCOME to the pretty 122-inch-tall red dwelling that lays claim to the title of the UK's smallest house .
A small Indian monkey is seemingly gob-smacked after reading the latest stock market news .
PUCKERING up and enjoying some quality time, these are the most lovable monkeys on the planet .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
STOOD side by side next to a busy road, these buildings were once bustling with life .
WITH THEIR adorable big round eyes and fluffy white fur, these baby seals are cute enough to melt any heart .
PERCHING on the edge of a flower, these loved-up caterpillars can't resist each other as they enjoy a romantic moment together .
A Romanian photographer has captured the unique patterns of hundreds of human eyes in a series of striking macro shots .
A SHOCKING cartoon of a black man carrying bags saying‘’zippadydoohdah zip-up immigrant bags’ has appeared in a shop window and is being investigated by police .
A PENSIONER was left with a fractured jaw after being beaten and robbed outside his home in Birmingham last weekend .
A little brown bear cub shows his doting mum that she is always on parent duty as he uses her as a scratching post .
