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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| £161m VAT fraud: Vaughan-Owen sisters jailed | £161m VAT fraud: Vaughan-Owen sisters jailed |
| (about 17 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. | 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 called "serial fraudsters and shameless liars" by the judge at Caernarfon Crown Court. | The pair, described as Laurel and Hardy figures by their defence, were called "serial fraudsters and shameless liars" by the judge at Caernarfon Crown Court. |
| The trial heard the pair lived "beyond the dreams of honest working people". | 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. |
| They were found guilty of nine frauds. | They were found guilty of nine frauds. |
| 'Laurel and Hardy' | 'Laurel and Hardy' |
| During the trial, the court was told that 42-year-old former Post Office 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. |
| Jailing the pair, Judge Niclas Parry said: "The jury has seen you for what you are - serial fraudsters, shameless liars, manipulative and calculating. You lived a lavish, greedy lifestyle at the expense of people who face real hardship." | Jailing the pair, Judge Niclas Parry said: "The jury has seen you for what you are - serial fraudsters, shameless liars, manipulative and calculating. You lived a lavish, greedy lifestyle at the expense of people who face real hardship." |
| Speaking after the sentencing, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said the case served as a warning. | Speaking after the sentencing, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said the case served as a warning. |
| Simon De Kayne, assistant director with, HMRC said: "The scale and variety of their criminal attempts was astonishing but it wasn't enough for them and their greed led to the £161m VAT claim, and their downfall. | Simon De Kayne, assistant director with, HMRC said: "The scale and variety of their criminal attempts was astonishing but it wasn't enough for them and their greed led to the £161m VAT claim, and their downfall. |
| "Anyone tempted to cheat, swindle and defraud should be warned that we are examining claims more closely than ever before." | "Anyone tempted to cheat, swindle and defraud should be warned that we are examining claims more closely than ever before." |
| The HMRC said it would now be starting confiscation proceedings against the sisters, in a bid to recoup some of the money stolen in benefit fraud. | The HMRC said it would now be starting confiscation proceedings against the sisters, in a bid to recoup some of the money stolen in benefit fraud. |