BBC Countryfile Star Jailed in £1.8M Tax Fraud Scandal.
An award-winning farmer who once graced the screen on BBC Countryfile has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after he scammed HMRC out of £1.8 million through VAT fraud.
Jack Stilwell — who was once crowned Britain’s Young Farmer of the Year — attempted to cheat the government by submitting fraudulent VAT claims.
The 34-year-old, who rose to international prominence in the industry with his pioneering business model that saw him crowdfund to launch his first farm, "chose to flout the law," according to HMRC.
Stilwell got into trouble for committing fraud with three of his farming businesses. HMRC, which took him to court from Rowlands Castle in Hampshire, investigated him after his wrongdoings that happened between November 2021 and June 2022, with a final act on July 2, 2022. His first crime involved submitting 20 fake VAT returns for Roundstone Beef Ltd, racking up a total of £1,278,277.13. Then, he was convicted for filing a single false VAT return in July 2022 for Greenwell Farms Ltd, claiming £37,621.00. Lastly, he faced charges for submitting eight false statements for Greenwell Holdings Ltd, which added up to £568,345.66.
At Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday, Stilwell was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for tax fraud after confessing to three counts of submitting false VAT returns.
A spokesperson for HMRC said: 'Tax fraud is not a victimless crime. The tax we all pay helps to fund the public services we rely on.
'The majority pay the tax that is due, but a determined minority refuse to play by the rules.
'We are determined to create a level playing field to allow honest businesses to thrive and we encourage anyone with information about tax fraud or money laundering to report it online.'
Stilwell's downfall comes after he launched his own beef farming venture, funded by the public through a groundbreaking crowdfunding campaign. Back in 2015, during his last year at Harper Adams University at just 23, he started a crowdfunder to gather £4,000 for purchasing beef cattle and leasing land. The campaign gained significant attention from agricultural media and farmers globally, as highlighted by the university on its website. A farm owner from the USA generously contributed the entire £4,000, while another in West Sussex offered him 600 acres of land as part of a farm-share initiative.
His business thrived, eventually spanning more than 200 Hereford and Aberdeen-Angus cattle across multiple farms.
In 2015, he was honored as Young Farmer of the Year at the prestigious Food and Farming Industry Awards, and he later gained national attention with appearances on BBC’s Countryfile in 2016 and 2017.
More recently, Stilwell spoke candidly about his struggles with mental health—and, unrepentantly, turned once again to the public for financial support, this time to raise funds for The Farm Safety Foundation.
On his JustGiving page, Stilwell admitted he had been "struggling within myself for a long time and had lost my direction."
His last update came in February, as he attempted to run 500 miles in a year for the charity—even though he had already pleaded guilty to VAT fraud and was awaiting sentencing.
Stilwell wrote on the fundraising page: “As a farmer and business owner, I understand the immense pressure that comes with launching and running an agricultural business.
'This can affect other areas of your life and relationships. Sometimes, you just feel on your own and your thoughts can get as dark as they come. If you, or someone you care for gets to that place, it's really important to know that there is always someone there to help.'
Top 5 Biggest VAT Fraudsters in UK History
1. Sarah Panitzke – £1 Billion VAT Scam
Once dubbed the UK’s most wanted woman, Panitzke played a key role in a colossal £1 billion mobile phone VAT fraud. She fled during trial in 2013 and was finally captured in Spain nearly a decade later. After extradition, she received a combined 17-year sentence, including time for failing to repay £2.4 million under a confiscation order.
2. Syed Ahmed & Shakeel Ahmad – £37.5 Million VAT Fraud
Leaders of a 21-person gang, Ahmed and Ahmad masterminded one of the UK’s largest carousel frauds. Although originally convicted for a £12.6 million VAT con, they were ordered to repay £184 million—and sentenced to an extra 10 years each for refusing to comply.
3. Green Tax Gang – £107.9 Million Environmental Fraud
Five professionals, including scientists and bankers, sold fake green investment schemes to wealthy clients. The plan? Pocket nearly £108 million in fraudulent tax reliefs. The scam led to a combined 43 years of jail time—and one of the biggest tax fraud crackdowns in HMRC history.
4. Alcohol Smuggling Syndicate – £120 Million Fraud
Operating across Windsor and Slough, this gang scammed £34 million in VAT and laundered another £87 million through illegal alcohol sales. The ringleaders created fake companies and falsified documents to pull off the massive operation. Their punishment? Over 46 years collectively behind bars.
5. Stephen Pigott – £40 Million VAT Evasion
A former songwriter-turned-fraudster, Pigott ran a £40 million VAT fraud through a mobile phone trading scheme. After skipping bail, he vanished abroad for 14 years—only to be caught when he returned for his daughter’s wedding. He now owes millions in restitution and faces a long sentence.
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