Jail for ringleaders of tax fraud gang

The ringleaders of an eight-strong gang of labourers from the West Midlands have been jailed for attempting to steal £300,000 through fake tax claims.

The gang submitted false self assessment returns claiming they had paid too much tax and were due repayments totalling £296,193 between 2011 and 2015.

Investigators found ringleaders Mark Thorpe, from Birmingham, and Aaron Hayers, from Dudley, recruited workmates to carry out the fraud and took a percentage of their claims.