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Barrister's £17.5m sham VAT claim Barrister's £17.5m sham VAT claim
(about 2 hours later)
A barrister who tried to claim a £17.5m VAT repayment for the bogus sale of four Boeing 747 engines has been jailed for five years.A barrister who tried to claim a £17.5m VAT repayment for the bogus sale of four Boeing 747 engines has been jailed for five years.
John Wilmot, 35, from Temple Chambers, central London, said he paid more than £100m for the engines in south London then sold them to an Iraqi businessman. John Wilmot, 35, who worked in Temple Chambers, said he paid more than £100m for the engines in south London then sold them to an Iraqi businessman.
He was convicted of cheating the public revenue at Southwark Crown Court.He was convicted of cheating the public revenue at Southwark Crown Court.
"This was an audacious attempt to obtain a very large sum of public money," said Judge Deborah Taylor."This was an audacious attempt to obtain a very large sum of public money," said Judge Deborah Taylor.
'Sham transaction''Sham transaction'
Wilmot claimed he paid £100m plus VAT for the four aircraft engines in Croydon, south London.Wilmot claimed he paid £100m plus VAT for the four aircraft engines in Croydon, south London.
He claimed he then sold them VAT-free to Basra Airport in Iraq, via a businessman he met at a garden party.He claimed he then sold them VAT-free to Basra Airport in Iraq, via a businessman he met at a garden party.
Wilmot sent a VAT return to Customs and Excise reclaiming the VAT on the imaginary sale, which would have totalled £17.5m.Wilmot sent a VAT return to Customs and Excise reclaiming the VAT on the imaginary sale, which would have totalled £17.5m.
When challenged to prove the transaction had taken place, Wilmot backed up his "elaborate" scheme with a series of fake documents.When challenged to prove the transaction had taken place, Wilmot backed up his "elaborate" scheme with a series of fake documents.
Judge Taylor said: "You concocted a sham transaction, you used the details of an existing company in Croydon who you claimed were vendors of the engines to produce invoices.Judge Taylor said: "You concocted a sham transaction, you used the details of an existing company in Croydon who you claimed were vendors of the engines to produce invoices.
"They had never heard of you nor dealt in second hand aircraft engines.""They had never heard of you nor dealt in second hand aircraft engines."
Wilmot gave Customs and Excise the name of the ship he supposedly used to transport the engines to Iraq.Wilmot gave Customs and Excise the name of the ship he supposedly used to transport the engines to Iraq.
But a check revealed that it was actually a grain carrier which was not equipped to carry any other type of cargo.But a check revealed that it was actually a grain carrier which was not equipped to carry any other type of cargo.
Sentencing, the judge said that in addition to prison she was going to recommend Wilmot be deported to his Nigerian homeland upon his release.Sentencing, the judge said that in addition to prison she was going to recommend Wilmot be deported to his Nigerian homeland upon his release.
He was also disqualified from being a company director for eight years.He was also disqualified from being a company director for eight years.