Multi-million mobile phone fraud trials end as four more are jailed

THE final chapter in the long-running court saga of a multi-million VAT fraud which involved a Uttoxeter businessman has finished.

The jailing of four people last Friday for a total of 19 years marked the end of the major investigation into a mobile phone scam.

The deception was masterminded by Craig Johnson, aged 35, who was jailed for 10 years for cheating the public purse in June 2006.

Johnson, had a £3 million, eight bedroom mansion near Stone. He was one of 21 criminals - 13 from North Staffordshire - who are behind bars for their involvement in the scam which swindled the taxpayer out of a total of £138 million.

The scam involved the importation of mobile phones from various EU countries, VAT free or used a paperwork trail which suggested the imports had taken place.

Operation Emersed was launched in 2001 and led to 12 people being jailed for a total of 75 years following trials at Wolverhampton Crown Court in June 2006 and April last year. Legal restrictions barred publication of the two cases which were concluded last week at Worcester Crown Court when four more people were jailed for their part in a £50 million VAT fraud.

Among those jailed in June 2006 was Clive Saunders, pictured right, aged 46, of Wood Lane, Uttoxeter. He was found guilty of two charges of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and sentenced to a total 11 years.

He ran a security company providing doormen and women to pubs and clubs in North Staffordshire and in his home town of Uttoxeter.

He used his business to recruit willing frontmen for 'missing traders', including Charles Hackney, aged 54, of Colwyn Bay, North Wales. He was jailed for five years at the 2006 trial for conspiracy to cheat the public revenue.

Saunders had a right-hand man, ex-soldier Craig Jones, who controlled companies ensuring money passed through bank accounts in return for high-value vehicles and property abroad.

Jones, aged 37, gave evidence in court against his co-accused and was jailed for five years. He was jailed for five years in 2003 for VAT fraud.

Saunders' book-keeper, David G Routledge, aged 64, of Meir Park, funnelled hundreds of thousands of pounds through his bank accounts to Saunders's accounts in Honk Kong, Switzerland and Spain.

Saunders used the money to build a £1 million mansion on land in Wood Lane, Uttoxeter, once owned by Bartley Gorman. Saunders also acquired vehicles including Ferraris, Bentleys and a helicopter. He owned a Spanish villa, a boat moored on the Costa Brava and several expensive Rolex watches.

David G Routledge admitted cheating the revenue and money laundering and was jailed for a total of seven years at the trial in 2006.