York woman jailed for multimillion-pound VAT fraud
48 year-old Sarah Panitzke was one of the most wanted women in the UK.
Last updated 10th Jun 2022
A woman from York has appeared in court for her role in a multimillion-pound VAT fraud.
48 year-old Sarah Panitzke, who's originally from Fulford, was extradited from Spain on Thursday - following nine years on the run.
Panitzke absconded in May 2013 while standing trial for money laundering offences - and 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 he arrest.
Police officers arrested Panitzke while she walked her two dogs in the small town of Santa Barbara near the Catalan coast on February 27.
The operation was led by the Spanish Guardia Civil, working alongside HMRC.
Panitzke launched an appeal against extradition proceedings, which failed, and she was returned to the UK on Thursday, HMRC said after the court case.
On Friday, Judge Sarah Plaschkes QC said: "Stand up please, as you have heard you were sentenced in your absence by his honour Judge Campbell at this court on the 22nd August 2013 to eight years imprisonment, that sentence will start today now that you have been extradited to this country.
"That means that you will serve at least half of that sentence in custody before you may be released on licence.
"When you are released on licence, if you commit any further offence you may serve the rest of your sentence in custody.
"In the circumstances, there are no further orders that I need to make and nothing further that I need to say."
Following her arrest in February, Simon York, director of the Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said "Panitzke was one of Britain's most-wanted tax fugitives."
On Friday, Mr York added: "Sarah Panitzke helped launder millions of pounds of stolen money and thought she could run from her crimes.
"She spent nine years hiding - but we never stopped looking.
"We worked tirelessly alongside the Spanish authorities to track her down and ensure she was brought back to face justice."