This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-15963320
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| £161m VAT fraud: Vaughan-Owen sisters jailed | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two sisters who tried to claim £161m in VAT they had never paid have each been jailed for three-and-a-half years. | |
| Andrea and Roberta Vaughan-Owen, of Colwyn Bay, Conwy, were also convicted of illegally claiming tens of thousands of pounds in benefits. | Andrea and Roberta Vaughan-Owen, of Colwyn Bay, Conwy, were also convicted of illegally claiming tens of thousands of pounds in benefits. |
| The pair, described as Laurel and Hardy figures by their defence, were found guilty of nine frauds at Caernarfon Crown Court. | |
| The trial heard the pair lived "beyond the dreams of honest working people". | |
| As well as their luxury home they rented out a second property, had private health care, paid for private education for Andrea Vaughan-Owen's children and expressed an interest in items such as a £315,000 Rolls Royce. | As well as their luxury home they rented out a second property, had private health care, paid for private education for Andrea Vaughan-Owen's children and expressed an interest in items such as a £315,000 Rolls Royce. |
| Prosecutor Paul Taylor described the trial as a case "of our times and for our times". | Prosecutor Paul Taylor described the trial as a case "of our times and for our times". |
| "A case of, if you want it, you can have it, without doing any work to earn it," he told the jury as he outlined the case against the two sisters. | "A case of, if you want it, you can have it, without doing any work to earn it," he told the jury as he outlined the case against the two sisters. |
| 'Laurel and Hardy' | 'Laurel and Hardy' |
| During the trial, the court was told that 42-year-old former Post Officer worker Andrea Vaughan-Owen and Roberta, 37, got money from anyone they could, including banks, insurances companies and through state benefits. | During the trial, the court was told that 42-year-old former Post Officer worker Andrea Vaughan-Owen and Roberta, 37, got money from anyone they could, including banks, insurances companies and through state benefits. |
| The pair had both claimed incapacity benefits and working tax credits at the same time. | The pair had both claimed incapacity benefits and working tax credits at the same time. |
| They were also accused of falsely registering companies for VAT purposes, and carrying out mortgage and insurance frauds. | They were also accused of falsely registering companies for VAT purposes, and carrying out mortgage and insurance frauds. |
| But the main charge facing the two women was an attempt to reclaim £161m in VAT refunds for tax they had never paid in 2008. | But the main charge facing the two women was an attempt to reclaim £161m in VAT refunds for tax they had never paid in 2008. |
| The sisters claimed that the attempt to reclaim the massive VAT sum had been a mistake. | The sisters claimed that the attempt to reclaim the massive VAT sum had been a mistake. |
| Their defence teams said they failed to understand the forms involved. | Their defence teams said they failed to understand the forms involved. |
| Lee Karu QC, defending Andrea Vaughan-Owen, said the claim was "nonsense, deluded, idiotic". | Lee Karu QC, defending Andrea Vaughan-Owen, said the claim was "nonsense, deluded, idiotic". |
| He said the sisters were more like Laurel and Hardy, rather than Bonnie and Clyde crime figures. | He said the sisters were more like Laurel and Hardy, rather than Bonnie and Clyde crime figures. |
| But the jury rejected their version of events and found them guilty of all nine charges. | But the jury rejected their version of events and found them guilty of all nine charges. |