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Lifestyle of 'zero
income' smuggler revealed
A tobacco smuggler who lived a rich
lifestyle despite appearing to have no legitimate source of income, has been
ordered to repay £64,000 after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Nicholas Todd, 61, was ordered to pay back the money he stole from Taxpayers
following an in depth financial investigation; after he was jailed for
tobacco smuggling offences earlier this year.
Zoe Ellerbeck, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC, said:-
"For someone who travelled extensively and lived abroad, HMRC have shown
that Todd had no legitimate source of income and the judge accepted that
this lifestyle was funded largely by Tax evasion and crime. We are
determined to recover stolen Taxes for such crimes. Tobacco fraud costs
honest Taxpayers more than £2.1 billion a year, undercutting honest
businesses, and drawing people into wider criminality. Anyone with
information about illicit tobacco sales or smuggling should contact the
Customs' Hotline on:- 0800 59 5000."
Todd was caught smuggling tobacco on several occasions at Manchester Airport
and in an attempt to bring cash back to the UK Todd had it hidden in his
suitcase.
Following his conviction, HMRC focused on
his lifestyle which included expensive purchases including a property and a
speed boat in Spain and cash held in multiple foreign bank accounts
totalling £340,000. HMRC were able to trace bank accounts in the UK, Spain
and USA.
He was ordered to repay £64,000 within 3 months or face a further 12 months
in jail if he does not pay back the stolen Tax by the deadline issued by the
Manchester Crown Court.
HMRC told us that:- "Nicholas Peter Todd, DOB 17/08/54, from
Javea, Alicante (previously of Knutsford, Cheshire), was ordered to repay
£64,000 (available assets) within 3 months or serve 12 months in jail. The
judge ruled that Todd had benefited by £341,220 from Tax evasion and crime
and the repayment order is for the full amount."
HMRC had given evidence to the Court of his lifestyle
including:-
► Between January 2009 and July 2014, £266,764 cash deposited to his
bank accounts.
► €2296 and £960 in cash hidden in his suitcase lining seized at
Manchester airport.
► €318, 952 transferred to his Spanish bank account.
► $40,877 transferred to his USA bank account.
► Details of the purchase of his home in Alicante, Spain (currently
valued at £285,000).
► €24,000 purchase of a Cobrey 260 SC cruiser
motor boat in Spain.
Todd was involved in multiple smuggling attempts including:-
► 10 January 2014: he abandoned a suitcase on the baggage carousel at
Manchester airport which contained 16 kilos of tobacco and 2,200 cigarettes.
► 23 January 2014: he was stopped by Border Force at Manchester
airport and his baggage was found to contain 10 kilos of tobacco and 1,400
cigarettes.
► 5 September 2014: he was intercepted by Border Force at Manchester
airport and his baggage contained 2.5 kilos of tobacco and 1,800 cigarettes.
HMRC also added:- "During the investigation, we had seized multiple
mobile phones and diaries from Todd which detailed his extensive smuggling
business further.
He was jailed for 8 months, at
Manchester Crown Court, on 23 January 2015. He pleaded guilty in December
2014, at Stockport Magistrates Court, to 2 separate offences involving the
fraudulent evasion of £50,713 UK excise duty and VAT under section 170 of
the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) 1979.
As of yet there is no appeal against
default jail sentences issued in confiscation orders and the order for
repayment remains in place after the default sentence is served by the
fraudster."
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Show Review:- "Last
Night a DJ Saved my life, The Musical"
Review by:- Jo
Forrest.
ON a freezing, wet winter night in
January 2016, hundreds of people flocked the The Empire Theatre, to see:-
'Last Night a DJ Saved my life, The Musical.'
The opening saw a DJ trying hard to get the crowd warmed up before the
performance started, but to no avail they really didn't appear all that
interested. A cheesy musical set in 1980, early 1990's Ibiza, when all the
18 to 30 raves were all the rage. The show starts with a medley of The Spice
Girls and The vengaboys at Luton airport where everyone is excited about
their impending holiday, but this didn't really seem to get the audience
dancing in their seat. Rik play by Shane Richie Jnr, meets Penny played by
Stephanie Webber, who is on her way to meet her father, Ibiza's best DJ and
night club owner, that she hasn't spoken to in 3 years.
As they arrive at their destination, we meet Ross, The Hoff, who bursts onto
the stage, singing Take That's relight my fire, the audience cheered with
delight, finally the crowd seemed to be warming up, but sadly this was short
lived. As the 1st ½ of the show, moves on, we are introduced to Jose, a
barman, who had some of the best lines in the show, and was a definite
winner with the audience. Shazza and Amber, Ross's much younger girlfriend,
Mandy (Kim Tiddy) and the bad, drug pushing security man Ebenezer (Barry
Bloxham). The story unfolds of drug taking, broken homes, partying and all
the usual problems you encounter when growing up.
Part 2 opens with a hilarious recreation of Bay Watch and goes onto The Hoff
accidentally dropping an ecstasy tablet and going on a mind bending trip and
the plot lines are quickly tied up
David Hasselhoff, was great, made all the funnier by his ability not to take
himself too seriously, there were some seriously funny moments during the
show, but this just didn't seem to be enough. Without all the music the
storyline was a little weak. This show has all the hallmarks of being a
really great. Great upbeat music that took you back to your own childhood,
an estranged daughter from her father, 18 to 30 Ibiza club scene and a
holiday romance, some great but cheesy jokes, the very funny Barman and a
baddie, but even with all that I was left feeling that something was simply
lacking, the audience didn't really appear to be that excited by the show as
a whole and only really seemed to get involved at the end when the cast
urged everyone onto their feet to dance.
Last Night a DJ is on in various theatres throughout the UK.
If you attended this event, please do let us know if you agree or not and
send us your thought about it to:-
News24@SouthportReporter.com.
Kaiser Chiefs announce Forest Live gigs
Photograph by Danny North
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THE amazing
Kaiser
Chiefs are the latest band to announce dates as part of Forest Live, where
acts perform in spectacular woodland settings around the country as part of
the summer concert series promoted by the Forestry Commission. Formed in
Leeds in 2000, Kaiser Chiefs quickly produced a succession of classic album
releases in:- 'Employment', 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob'
and 'Off With Their Heads' establishing them as one of the
leading bands of their generation. Fronted by the charismatic Ricky Wilson,
their trademark indie rock sound delivered a string of anthemic hits such
as:- 'Oh My God', 'I Predict A Riot',
'Everyday I Love You Less And Less', 'Ruby' and
'Never Miss A Beat'. This success has ensured a number of headline
festival slots and sell out tours. As a follow up to 2014's No 1 album
'Education, Education, Education and War', the group are
currently working on their sixth studio album. Ricky Wilson is currently
appearing as a coach in the BBC TV series The Voice. Forest Live is an
independent programme organised by the
Forestry
Commission to bring forests to new audiences. Income generated from
ticket sales is spent on protecting, improving and expanding England's
forests and woodlands and increasing their value to people and wildlife.
Over Forest Live's 15 year history, money raised has contributed to a wide
range of projects, from wildlife conservation to making improvements for
visitors. With everything required for a great night out, including full
catering and bar facilities, the gigs are renowned for their relaxed
atmosphere. Commenting on the gigs, Ricky Wilson said:- "As a band
we've always loved to play outdoors; we've done fields, parks, farms,
rooftops, beaches and back gardens, but this will be the 1st time we've
played in a forest. If you go down to the woods this Summer, you're sure of
a big surprise. We're really looking forward to being part of Forest Live."
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Kaiser Chiefs plus guests
will be performing:- |
| Friday,
17 June 2016 |
Westonbirt Arboretum,
nr Tetbury, Glos. |
|
Saturday, 18 June 2016 |
Bedgebury Pinetum, nr
Tunbridge Wells, Kent. |
| Sunday,
26 June 2016 |
Dalby Forest, nr
Pickering, N Yorks. |
|
Sunday, 3 July 2016 |
Delamere
Forest, nr Northwich, Cheshire. |
| Sunday,
10 July 2016 |
Cannock Chase Forest,
nr Rugeley, Staffs. |
|
Tickets priced at:- £38.50 (plus £4.35
booking fee) and are available from the Forestry Commission Box Office:-
03000 680400, or buy
online. |
