Press release -
Checkmate for chess-playing fraudster as prized pottery auctioned
A fugitive fraudster who stole more than £750,000 in a tax and mortgage fraud faces an extra five years in prison for not paying back the money.
Crooked tax agent Robin Moss will also have his prized possessions, including thousands of pounds of collectible Moorcroft pottery, gold coins and jewellery, auctioned off to recover some of the stolen cash.
Moss, who is an internationally ranked chess player, lied about his income, made bogus claims in the names of unsuspecting clients, and provided false documents that were used in fraudulent mortgage applications.
The 60-year-old was sentenced in his absence to 10 years in prison for tax fraud, money laundering, mortgage fraud and theft. He was convicted in October 2023, after a joint investigation between HMRC and police officers from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit.
Moss has now been handed an extra five-year sentence at Nottingham Crown Court for failing to repay a £970,101 confiscation order.
He now faces a total of 15 years in prison and will still owe the money, plus interest that continues to accrue, even after he has served his extended sentence.
Mark Robinson Operational Lead, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:
“Our work doesn’t stop at conviction – we always look to recover the proceeds of crime, money that should have been used to fund our public services.
“We’re determined to track down Robin Moss and when we do, he’ll now spend even longer in prison and still owe the money.
“We encourage anyone with information about tax fraud to report it online to HMRC.”
Notes for editors
- Broadcast interviews with a HMRC spokesperson are available on request.
- Robin Moss DOB 21/12/1964, of Poland, was convicted of: Fraudulent Evasion of £193,333 of VAT; Cheating the public revenue of Corporation Tax totalling £373,132; Cheating the public revenue Income Tax totalling £80,950; Conspiracy to commit fraud by abuse of position; Four counts of theft from clients totalling £52,363; Fraud by abuse of position totalling £13,944.
- An immediate confiscation order was made for £970,101 at Nottingham Crown Court on 29 November 2024.
- Link to previous story here
- You can find out more about HMRC’s approach to tax fraud at gov.uk
- Follow HMRC’s Press Office on X @HMRCpressoffice
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Issued by HM Revenue & Customs Press Office
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is the UK’s tax authority.
HMRC is responsible for making sure that the money is available to fund the UK’s public services and for helping families and individuals with targeted financial support.
