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.
WITH A LITTLE cap of fresh snow resting on his head, this squirrel tries his best to pull off his new look .
A lively lemon shark grins into the camera and showcases his impressive teeth .
HUNDREDS of colour coordinated yarns lie abandoned in this once thriving textile mill .
As sunlight cascades through its vibrant stained glass windows, every inch of the Nasir-ol-Mulk Mosque bursts with colour .
INSIDE Britain's last Naval hospital where scurvy was cured looks like an NHS time capsule .
FISTS fly as two gorillas take each other on in a dramatic battle .
Families in an Indian slum put their lives on the line by living on top of an ACTIVE railway track .
A BROWN bear wades through waters in Alaska and waits for his lunch .
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 .
USUALLY full to bursting, these London Underground stations stand silent and completely commuter free .
COULD this be the most distastrous wedding cake fail EVER? Most brides opt for a traditional tiered white wedding cake decorated with delicate pink roses and lace for their big day .
THE THOUGHT OF BECOMING shipwrecked on a remote destination would fill most holidaymakers with dread .