A CONVICTED fraudster who fled the UK before being jailed for trying to fleece a £148 million lottery winner has been given extra prison time.
Zahid Khan, who was already handed a 10-year-sentence, is facing another 14 months for failing to comply with a confiscation order imposed in a bid to retrieve some of the proceeds of his crimes, reported BirminghamLive on Monday (11).
Khan is currently in the UAE. He fled in June last year during a trial over a £500,000 number plate scam.
West Midlands Police said it was working with Interpol and overseas law enforcement agencies to bring Khan back to the UK.
In a new statement, the West Midlands force said: "Zahid Khan has been proven to be a serial liar and conman, and when he returns to the UK, he will be arrested and sent straight to prison," the force said.
It added: "In October, Khan was ordered to pay a confiscation order with immediate effect, and as a result of failing to pay this order, his sentence has been increased by 14 months.
"We continue to work with Interpol and overseas law enforcement agencies in a bid to bring Khan back to the UK to face justice."
Khan is active on social media and last week he flaunted his new pet -- a Siberian tiger -- on Facebook.
In the video he plays with the cute baby tiger and says "look at the claws coming out" before telling him "good boy."
He posted: "Who likes my new pet always told you I was different, you like the Siberian white Tiger.
"Scars don’t come easy they come and stay for life every scar has a story behind it. We been bought up in a jungle we can handle any habitat you leave us in."
Khan, who lived in Moseley, Birmingham, was allowed to keep his passport during the trial in the summer of 2018. He fled during the proceedings, and in a video posted on his Facebook page, Khan apologised for leaving the country.
"Sorry, I had no choice," said Khan in his message to Judge Philip Parker, QC.
"I am making this video to let you know I am very sorry, I did not want to do what I did, but I felt like I had no other choice.
"Had I stayed in the UK, I was not having no justice and the only safest option I had was to leave this country."
Two brothers and a cousin were jailed for their part in the number plate scam. Khan and his brother were also given additional 30-month sentences for smuggling illegal immigrants into the UK.
Khan was convicted in his absence of conspiracy to commit fraud, perverting the course of justice, plus concealing and converting criminal property.
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