Car fraudsters jailed

3:38pm Friday 11th January 2008

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By Nafeesa Shan »

THREE men who masterminded a £4million car importation fraud have been jailed for a total of five years and three months.

But one of the men - father-of-four Thomas Beard - had his jail term reduced from 12 months to nine after a court was told that he was suffering from a heart condition.

The 46-year-old had his sentence reduced even though he had not paid National Insurance, which help funds the National Health Service which is treating him, for a number of years.

Beard, of Acorn Lodge , Gypsy Caravan Site, Longsight Road, Clayton-le Dale, was part of a group who imported 109 high performance cars over a two year-period.

His associates James Mounsey, 33, and Alexander Howard, 29, both from Morecambe, were also sentenced to 30 months and two years respectively.

All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and money laundering.

Between April 2004 and April 2006 they imported high value cars including BMWs and Range Rovers from garages in Holland, Belgium and Germany.

They used false identities and bogus companies in order to import the vehicles and then distribute them throughout the UK, evading VAT payments.

Beard was found to have £93,000 in a bank account and a further £91,000 in his home when he was arrested last April.

Judge Hon Christopher Cornwall told Beard: "You have made money at the expense of the community in a democratic society where we are supposed to contribute to the community."

After the case, Detective inspector Lee Halstead, from Lancashire Police's serious and organised crime unit, said: "It was wholly unacceptable and reprehensible to attack the economic well being of our state, which has a responsibility for providing for our nation's health and education.

"Specially trained officers will now endeavour to use the full powers of the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure that these criminals do not leave the criminal justice system having benefitted from their crimes"