Del Boy criminals jailed over tax swindle

Trevor Wales, 54, and his son Richard Wales, 28, have been jailed after they managed to evade paying £200,000 in duty in a six-year counterfeit tobacco scam.

Their scheme allowed them to buy and renovate property as well as purchase jet skis, luxury cars, caravans and motorbikes. Also found at one of their properties was the symbol of the hit TV show – complete with the logo Trotters Independent Traders.

Mary Wales, 53, the wife of Trevor Wales, acted as the “banker” of the profits and was given a suspended sentence by the court.

A court heard the family, of Londesboro Grove, East End Park, Leeds, had been carrying out their scam between 2003 and 2009.

And the Wales’ used this money to live far beyond their means, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Richard Wales, who was described by his defence as “naive,” along with the charges relating to dealing in counterfeit goods, pleaded guilty to falsely obtaining a mortgage and converting money made selling the tobacco to a £27,000 deposit for a house. He was jailed for 15 months.

Trevor Wales was sentenced to two years and three months after admitting evading VAT on cigarettes and tobacco. Michael Smith, defending him, said his client was not the “prime mover” behind this and he had become involved through his links in greyhound racing.

Mary Wales got a 12-month sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty to two offences of converting criminal property. She was also handed an 18-month supervision order and a four-month curfew.