THESE are some of the fast cars being auctioned by HM Revenue and Customs following the jailing of a millionaire mobile phone fraudster.

It is selling the cars and motorbikes as it tries to claw back some of the money made illegally by the £138 million fraud mastermind Craig Johnson.

Auction lots include a Ferrari 355, a Bentley Arnage, a Ducati motorbike, above, and a selection of number plates all seized from Johnson after his arrest.

Johnson, below, aged 35, of Meaford Hall, near Stone, is already serving 12 years in prison for his part in the VAT scam which also saw other North Staffordshire fraudsters locked up.

The scam involved mobile phones being imported from the EU without VAT being paid before selling them on with VAT included and then pocketing the tax.

The HMRC has traced £4.5 million of assets amassed by Johnson, including the five cars and bikes being auctioned next month, an eight-bedroom mansion, two helicopters, two other UK properties, seven properties in Dubai, a plane, yacht, 10 quad bikes and £200,000 worth of Rolex watches and jewellery.

Potential buyers can make appointments to view the lots at next month's auction between 10am and 4pm on June 23.

Sealed tenders for the vehicles and plates will have to be made by 4pm on June 26, with the winning bidders notified within days.

Richard Blackman, director at the managing agent for receiver SMH Smith Hodgkinson, which is dealing with the sale, expects particular interest in the number plate CRA 1C.

He said: "Our expectations are that in excess of £150,000 will be raised, but it depends how people are when it comes to the number plates."

An auction of jewellery seized from Johnson's homes has already raised nearly £60,000 for the public purse.

And Johnson's mansion remains on the market at a guide price of £2.75 million.

Robert Alder, HMRC assistant chief investigation officer, said: "This case resulted in some of the longest prison sentences ever handed out by courts for this type of crime.

"Principal gang member Craig Johnson is serving a 12-year jail term and is also having to repay crime profits of £26 million.

"We have frozen major assets which allowed him to enjoy a flamboyant lifestyle at the expense of the British taxpayer.

"A routine day in Craig Johnson's world of crime would see him enjoy the very best in performance vehicles, top-of-the-range watches and jewellery, helicopters, yachts and his Staffordshire stately home.

"This has all been taken away and as these items go under the hammer, the cash raised will be reclaimed for the public purse."