Seven construction insiders jailed over massive £22 million taxpayer fraud
The Multi-Million Pound Construction Scam Revealed
In a stunning blow to the UK’s construction sector, seven company insiders have been locked up for running a cunning £22 million fraud racket. The scheme, exposed on Tuesday 4 February 2025, pulled the wool over HMRC and siphoned cash straight from the public purse.
HMRC and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) painstakingly untangled this sophisticated crime web involving tax evasion and money laundering, striking at the heart of public finances.
The Crooks Behind the Construction Fraud
The convicted ringleaders include:
- Daniel Newton, 38
- Philip Bailey, 36
- Sean Dean, 41
- Lee Hudson, 56
- Sarah Gillard, 41
- Bradley Mortimer, 39
- Kevin Ratcliffe, 43
How the Fraud Worked: VAT Scam Exposed
The gang set up a sham construction firm that sent bogus invoices to customer companies, inflating bills with VAT they never handed over to the Treasury. Instead, the dirty money was funneled into personal bank accounts, cheating taxpayers out of millions.
Heavy Jail Sentences Handed Down
- Daniel Newton: 9 years 4 months
- Philip Bailey: 6 years 3 months
- Sean Dean: 7 years
- Lee Hudson: 5 years
- Sarah Gillard: 2 years (suspended)
- Bradley Mortimer: 3 years 6 months
- Kevin Ratcliffe: 27 months
The Fallout: Public Services Pay the Price
“These criminals stole £22 million from the taxpayer. This is money needed to support our hard-pressed public services,” said Julius Capon of the Crown Prosecution Service.
HMRC Cracks Down on Construction Crooks
Ian Hackett, HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service lead, told UKNip, “We worked closely with Kent Police to dismantle this sophisticated fraud. Our efforts protected millions in taxpayers’ money.”
What’s Next? Recovering Lost Cash
The CPS is pushing ahead with proceeds of crime actions to claw back the stolen cash. Authorities vow to relentlessly pursue those who rip off the public sector.
