Fugitive VAT Fraudster John Dalton Slapped with £3.5m Confiscation Order
John Dalton, a career criminal who fled the UK in 2007 after a massive VAT fraud, has been nailed with a whopping £3,491,433 confiscation order. Dalton, born Paul Kemp and once from Canterbury, got five years and four months in prison back in 2018 for running a slick scam involving fake companies and forged documents to claim false VAT repayments from HMRC.
Scam Involved Bogus Companies and Fake Offices
Dalton’s racket used fake companies that never actually traded. Their so-called offices were barely occupied and constantly shifted locations to throw off investigators. After his initial arrest, Dalton skipped bail and vanished for a decade, only to be caught hiding out in Spain in 2017 and extradited back to face the music.
Judge Threatens Another Decade Behind Bars If Dalton Fails to Pay Up
Following a lengthy six-day hearing at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Silas Reid ruled that Dalton’s worldwide assets must cover the multi-million-pound order. “On the evidence I have, I am NOT satisfied… that Mr Dalton’s worldwide assets are worth less,” the judge declared.
If Dalton doesn’t cough up the full sum within three months, he faces an extra ten years locked up.
Kent Police Hunt Down Hidden Assets to Recover Stolen Cash
Detective Superintendent Patrick Milford from the Major Economic and Cyber Crime unit said:
“Dalton cheated his way through life to make huge sums he was never entitled to. Since his jail term, our team has tracked down properties in the UK and France, plus suspected worldwide assets. This court ruling backs up our suspicions.”
He added:
“This case shows how vital the Proceeds of Crime Act is in stopping criminals from profiting once they’ve served time. If Dalton pays, Kent Police will get a significant cut via the Home Office Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme, allowing us to invest directly into policing our communities.”
