A man who pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming VAT repayments totalling £1.89 million has been jailed for five and a half years at Mold Crown Court. He has also been disqualified from acting as a company director for 10 years. 

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has reported that Graham Drury made false purchase claims which amounted to approximately £11million which in turn generated VAT repayments of £1.89 million. The proceeds of the fraud were used to buy three Spanish properties, a UK property and jewellery.

Confiscation proceedings will now follow.

Offences of VAT and insurance fraud are often perceived as "victimless" crimes as there is no apparent or readily recognisable victim. However, the CPS has reinforced that in Mr Drury's case, the funds fraudulently claimed could have been spent on key public services. The public purse and thus the public are the victims.