R v U and others [2005] Southwark Crown Court/Royal Courts of Justice

At the time, the largest and most expensive case ever prosecuted by HMRC (circa £110m alleged cheat).

The case collapsed amid serious allegations of misconduct against senior customs officials and lawyers and after several months of abuse of process arguments, was stayed prominently in the High Court in 2005.

R v W and others [2006] Wood Green Crown Court

Historic inward duty evasion prosecution - contemporaneous with LCB. The case was stayed at Wood Green Crown Court in December 2006. The value of the cheat on the Revenue was alleged to be £53m and the case had been seven years in preparation..

R v C & others [2007] Southwark Crown Court

Attempt to defraud the Bank of England of £180m. Largest ever seizure of counterfeit notes. Legal arguments successfully leading to direction to jury to return not guilty verdicts in December 2007.

R v P [2002]

This case received widespread national publicity and involved transactions surrounding what was been coined ‘the most expensive house in Britain' (circa £70m). The prosecution (‘Operation Stockade') was one of the largest ever undertaken by HM Customs and Excise, and involved what was considered one of the largest VAT frauds relating to alcohol and tobacco.

The Crowns' case was that Mr P was a willing collaborator with others in the laundering of money obtained through the defrauding of HM Customs and Excise. Millions of pounds were invested in the reconstruction of Updown Court, the Crown's case being that these monies were the unlawful proceeds of crime. In addition, the Crown referred to various transactions involving the purchase and resale of a yacht, which took place under the auspices of the Lamborghini franchise in Monaco.

After successful arguments that there existed no evidence establishing a diversion fraud (allegations which involved transactions through LCB) all proceedings were discontinued.

R v P [2001]

Trial of UK businessman accused of mis-selling time-share properties in Teneriffe - alleged loss of £30m.