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.
Struggling home entertainment chain Blockbuster has been slammed for advertising its workers' jobs while they are still in them in order to scare them into working harder .
HUDDLED together in the hollow of a tree, it would be easy to overlook these two sleepy owls as they blend into the trunk .
FLOATING effortlessly on his back, this little otter laps up a rare glimmer of English spring sunshine .
LEAPING through the air this determined little mouse is on a mission for food .
UNDERWATER and above-water seaside shots show the best of British beach-life .
A SERENE turquoise glow glimmers from underneath these powerful icebergs .
Gigantic 100ft waves create the perfect playground for dare-devil surfers from across the world .
PERCHING on the edge of a flower, these loved-up caterpillars can't resist each other as they enjoy a romantic moment together .
THIS RING of fire in the sky is the annular solar eclipse that wowed our cousins down-under .
DIVING down at a speed of 75mph, this is the moment a hungry osprey caught his prey .
STEPFORD wives from the 1950's and 60's are performing history's most sexist exercise programme .