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.
An Indonesian farmer is dragged through muddy water as he clings to the tails of two charging cows .
SOME OF the sea’s most terrifying creatures show their softer side as they join a group of diners for lunch .
A photographer has captured stunning photographs of the Milky Way above picturesque landscapes in the UK and Italy .
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
STRETCHING his little legs in the air, a smiley leaf-tailed gecko breaks free from his old, scaly skin .
AT 4,800 metres high and just three metres wide, this is the most dangerous road in the world .
ROLLING around in the snow, these young brown bears take a break from their play fight to share a tender hug with one another .
ALL IS not as it seems in these deceptive cityscapes .
PUCKERING up and enjoying some quality time, these are the most lovable monkeys on the planet .
SAILING over crystal clear waters, the Bajau people of Malaysia live their lives almost entirely at SEA .
A ROAD KILL munching Scot has chewed on everything from a dead squirrel to an unlucky crow – all in the name of art .
PERCHING on the edge of a flower, these loved-up caterpillars can't resist each other as they enjoy a romantic moment together .