Fraudster did £1million scam so he could ‘feed a love of Lego sets’

Fraudster, 49, faked up a bogus transport firm for a GBP1million VAT scam so he could ‘feed a love of Lego sets, luxury cars, and top of the range hot tubs’

  • A fraudster spent more than GBP1million of taxpayers’ money on luxury lifestyle
  • Lee Hickinbottom, 49, was jailed for eight years for the three-year VAT scam 
  • Hickinbottom spent money on luxury cars, holidays and expensive Lego sets

By Chris Matthews For Mailonline

Published: 18:44, 21 May 2022 | Updated: 18:44, 21 May 2022

A fraudster who blew more than GBP1million of taxpayers’ money on funding an odd luxury life of cars, holidays and expensive Lego sets has been jailed for eight years.

Lee Hickinbottom, 49, conspired with his partner Tabatha Knott, 34, to work together to submit fraudulent VAT repayment claims to HMRC.

Hickinbottom used a fabricated transport business to claim most of the VAT in a claiming spree that lasted between 2014 and 2017.

Bogus Serenity Community Transport Ltd claimed GBP1,290,326.93 in VAT, relating to over GBP7million in fake invoicing, a court heard.

Lee Hickinbottom, 49, conspired with his partner Tabatha Knott, 34, to work together to submit fraudulent VAT repayment claims to HMRC

The former lovers used the stolen cash to fund dream trips to Disneyland Paris, visit the Empire State Building in New York and buy Lego sets.

The pair also spent hundreds of thousands revamping their Dudley home, which included spending a whopping GBP13,000 on a hot tub that had to be craned into position.

Hickinbottom forked out more than GBP250,000 on luxury cars, GBP4,220 supporting Everton Football club, GBP18,847 on iTunes, GBP15,925 on Apple products – he even splashed GBP1,500 on expensive Lego sets.

HMRC officers uncovered the fraud when the claims were checked despite Hickinbottom’s attempts to hide his crimes by transferring GBP346,512 to family and friends and sending GBP76,908 to Knott.

During a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court, in December 2020, Hickinbottom pleaded guilty to dishonestly claiming GBP28,000 of Job Seekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance between July 2013 and October 2016.

Lee Hickinbottom and Tabatha Knott were found guilty of VAT fraud on 25 March 2022 following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Knott was also convicted of money laundering offences. 

Fraudster did £1million scam so he could 'feed a love of Lego sets'

Hickinbottom forked out more than GBP250,000 on luxury cars, GBP4,220 supporting Everton Football club, GBP18,847 on iTunes, GBP15,925 on Apple products – he even splashed GBP1,500 on expensive Lego sets

Appearing yesterday at Birmingham Crown Court, Hickinbottom of Wolverhampton Street, Dudley, was sentenced to eight years in prison.

While Knott was handed 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.

Nick Stone, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: ‘This was a sustained attack on the tax system that funds the vital public services we all rely on.

Fraudster did £1million scam so he could 'feed a love of Lego sets'

The former lovers used the stolen cash to fund dream trips to Disneyland Paris, visit the Empire State Building in New York and buy Lego sets 

‘Lee Hickinbottom stole from taxpayers to feed a love of Lego sets, luxury cars, and top of the range hot tubs. He was driven by greed.

He enjoyed holidays and a lavish lifestyle that most honest, law-abiding taxpayers’ can only dream of.

‘His sentence sends a very clear warning that we can and will bring tax fraudsters before the courts to face justice.

We encourage anyone with information about any type of tax fraud or money laundering to report it to us online.’

Proceedings are now underway to recover the stolen money. 

What did Lee Hickinbottom spend his money on?

GBP346,512 on friends and family including almost GBP77,000 to his then-partner

GBP250,000 on cars including a Jaguar F Pace, Jaguar XFs and a Land Rover Defender

GBP127,000 on redoing his Dudley home, including GBP22,000 on a kitchen and GBP13,000 on a hot tub

GBP20,000 of shares in a sweets company

GBP18,847 on iTunes

GBP15,925 on Apple products

GBP4,220 on Everton FC and GBP970 on season tickets

GBP1,500 on Lego sets

GBP1,000 on Alton Towers