Ex Everton and Tranmere star Tony Thomas faces £2m VAT fraud trial

Jun 6 2009 by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Echo

Tony Thomas 60

FORMER Everton FC footballer Tony Thomas is accused of helping to mastermind a £2m VAT fraud.

The ex-Blue is set to stand trial at Liverpool crown court on Tuesday in connection with an alleged six-year con.

Thomas, 37, is charged with conspiring to cheat the public purse along with a 14-strong gang from around the country.

The former right-back, of Templeton Crescent, Croxteth, is alleged to have sold supposed “zero-rated” goods including children’s clothes, animal feed, straw and hay to claim back VAT.

But the prosecution will claim it was done using fake businesses, by falsifying invoices and by creating bogus transactions.

Thomas will deny the charge.

It is alleged that money obtained from the reclaimed VAT payments was spent by the gang on property.

The trial, involving defendants from Liverpool, Warrington, Cheshire and Scotland, is expected to last up to eight weeks.

It is alleged the conspiracy took place between 1998-2004.