Barry Stancombe and Martin Evans KC involved in long-running £33m tax fraud proceedings

Barry Stancombe and Martin Evans KC have been involved in extensive proceedings connected to convicted fraudster Arif Patel, whose case has recently been the subject of a BBC investigation.

Barry Stancombe acted on behalf of the management receiver, while Martin Evans KC represented the defendant in the confiscation order proceedings and subsequently appeared on his behalf before the Court of Appeal.

The BBC's File on 4 Investigates has reported on the case of Arif Patel, a Lancashire businessman convicted of orchestrating a major VAT carousel fraud involving more than £33 million of public money.

Patel left the UK in 2011 and was subsequently convicted in his absence in 2023. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. In 2025, a confiscation order of £90.5 million was made against Patel, with the case continuing through appeal proceedings.

Barry Stancombe has acted for the management receiver since 2010, advising in connection with the management and preservation of assets. Barry is a specialist in proceeds of crime, asset forfeiture and receivership, with extensive experience in restraint, confiscation, civil recovery and complex financial litigation. He is regularly instructed on behalf of court-appointed management and enforcement receivers in high-value proceedings.

His experience includes matters involving the intersection of proceeds of crime legislation and insolvency law, as well as complex asset recovery proceedings spanning multiple jurisdictions.

Martin Evans KC represented the defendant in the confiscation order proceedings and subsequently appeared on his behalf before the Court of Appeal. Martin's practice encompasses all aspects of asset recovery, money laundering and confiscation, spanning both criminal and civil jurisdictions. He regularly appears in the Crown Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Recognised as a leading silk for proceeds of crime work, Martin has appeared in landmark Supreme Court cases, including CPS v Aquila Advisory Ltd and Andrewes.

The proceedings demonstrate the considerable legal and practical challenges associated with complex confiscation and asset recovery cases, particularly where substantial assets, international jurisdictions and lengthy procedural histories are involved.

Read the full BBC investigation here