Ex-Top Gear Mechanic Jailed for Helping Tax Cheats Flee UK
A former Top Gear mechanic has been locked up for helping a father and son tax fraud duo skip the UK justice system.
Stephen Howard’s Role in £1 Million VAT Scam Escape
Stephen Howard, from Chilton, aided Jamie and Brian Colwell in fleeing to Spain before their sentencing over a £1 million VAT fraud. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation revealed Howard bought travel tickets and rented a van to smuggle Brian Colwell to a secret hideout in Benidorm.
The Colwells were caught and extradited back to the UK, now serving nearly eight years combined.
How Howard Helped the Colwells Dodge Justice
- Drove to France via Eurotunnel in Jamie Colwell’s Porsche Cayenne, then handed over the car
- Bought a foot passenger ferry ticket from portsmouth/" title="Portsmouth" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Portsmouth to Caen for Brian Colwell
- Rented a DAF box van, ferrying Brian and belongings from Portsmouth to Caen
- Driven the van filled with furniture through France and Spain to their Spanish hideout
- Returned to the UK alone in the van on January 14, 2018
Investigators found £2,900 deposited in Howard’s bank account and uncovered detailed travel receipts and itineraries during a home raid.
Conviction and Sentence
Howard denied any knowledge of the Colwells’ crimes but was found guilty of perverting the course of justice at Salisbury Crown Court on March 14. He was sentenced on April 12 to 15 months behind bars.
Using evidence from Howard’s phone, HMRC tracked the Colwells to their villa in Benidorm. The duo was arrested in May 2018 after being convicted for falsely claiming nearly £1 million in VAT repayments by lying about £14 million property development costs.
Luxury Lives Built on Stolen Cash
The stolen money funded a lavish lifestyle, including a speedboat, luxury cars, and a swanky Sandbanks rental.
Jamie Colwell received five years and three months in prison, while Brian got two years and eight months, with an additional six months each for breaching bail conditions.
