Fraudster who bought Spanish villas with taxpayers' cash told to pay back 拢1.2m or face longer in prison
Graham Drury, 71, formerly of Strathalyn in the Rossett area of Wrexham, was jailed for five and a half years in 2021. If he does not repay 拢1.2m within three months, his prison sentence would be increased by seven years.
Monday 31 July 2023 12:08, UK
A man who bought three Spanish villas after stealing money from the taxpayer has been told he must pay 拢1.2m or face a longer jail term.
Graham Drury, 71, formerly of Strathalyn in the Rossett area of Wrexham, was jailed for five and a half years in 2021.
He had submitted fraudulent VAT returns to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) totalling more than £1.8m.
Drury was told he had three months to pay a £1.2m confiscation order, at a hearing in Mold Crown Court on Friday.
If he did not pay the sum within that time, his prison sentence would be increased by seven years.
He was claiming fraudulent VAT repayments from HMRC, using his company, Drury Machine Sales Ltd, on machinery that was never purchased.
In addition to the three villas in Spain, where he regularly stayed on holiday, he also bought a property in the UK, a BMW X6, two Rolex watches and his assets also included £100,000 in a bank account.
The villas, watches and £100,000 were restrained by HMRC.
If Drury fails to pay the confiscation order, the assets will be disposed of with proceeds transferred into the public purse.
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He was arrested on 13 January 2019 and subsequently charged with VAT fraud to the total value of £1,887,010.
Drudy pleaded guilty to the VAT fraud at Mold Crown Court on 2 August 2021 and was sentenced the following day.