Two Merseyside men are due to be sentenced today, Friday, October 23, at Liverpool Crown Court for their roles in a £8.5m tax fraud linked to the import and sale of teeth whitening products, many of which breached UK regulations on permitted levels of hydrogen peroxide.
Details of the fraud
Alastair Ramage, 44, of York Close in Formby, and Ian Barnes, 53, of Southport Road in Lydiate, were involved in importing and selling the products. Money linked to the fraud was paid into an account held with Euro Pacific Bank in Puerto Rico, which has since closed.
The proceeds were used to fund lavish lifestyles, including spending £16,000 on a cap and more than £100,000 with a single holiday company. The pair even drew up plans for swimming pools shaped like teeth.
Sentencing and impact
The sentencing follows the fraud, which involved £8.5m in tax. The case highlights the scale of the illegal operation and the regulatory breaches associated with the products.
