One of the UK's most wanted fugitives is starting a prison sentence after spending nine years on the run. Sarah Panitzke appeared in court for her role in a multimillion-pound VAT fraud after she was arrested in Spain and extradited back to the UK.
The 48-year-old, originally from York, absconded in May 2013 while standing trial for money laundering offences and subsequently featured in the National Crime Agency's (NCA) list of most wanted suspects. She was convicted and sentenced in her absence to eight years in prison.
Panitzke and her 17 co-conspirators were given sentences totalling 135 years for a multimillion-pound VAT fraud, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said after her arrest.
