BOGUS property developers who fled to Spain in a private jet after their £1m VAT scam was uncovered have been ordered to repay just £1.

Jamie Colwell, 51, and his father Brian Colwell, 76, told HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) they had spent £14m building new properties.

New build homes are zero-rated, which means developers can claim back the VAT on them. The Colwells and Jamie Colwell's girlfriend Briony James claimed £965,421 over six years through companies Belgravia Construction Services South Ltd and Robert Lloyd Property Ltd.

However, an investigation revealed the homes had never been built. The three spent the proceeds of their fraud on their luxury lifestyles.

Last week, prosecutors brought a Proceeds of Crime Act case against the defendants to try and recover some of the funds. A nominal sum of £1 was imposed on the Colwells because of their lack of assets.

However, HMRC will pursue them in the future should either of them come into money and confiscate cash and goods.

James was ordered to repay an initial sum of £1,500.

Jamie Colwell used the cash made through the scam to rent a £2.8m seafront property in Old Coastguard Road, Sandbanks. He also bought a speedboat and high-performance cars.

He admitted two counts of fraud to obtain payment of VAT credit, while his father, of Hares Road, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to one count of acquiring criminal property.

James, 45 and of Bouverie Avenue South in Salisbury, admitted one count of fraud to obtain payment of VAT credit. She was jailed for 20 months.

The men failed to turn up for sentence at Bournemouth Crown Court in January 2018, and a warrant was issued for their arrest.

Last summer, they were captured in Spain. Jamie Colwell had initially fled to France in a light aircraft, while his accomplice father escaped by a ferry travelling between Portsmouth and Caen.

Colwell was sentenced to five years and three months in prison while his father was handed a sentence of two years and eight months.