THREE leading figures behind a multi-million pound tax fraud where lorry loads of Latvian booze were illegally diverted from a warehouse have been ordered to hand over £800,000.

Nine men took part in the £10m scam, which centred on bottles of vodka, whisky and brandy stored at a bonded warehouse on Chalcroft Distribution Park, West End.

Official paperwork was doctored to show alcohol being moved to other approved tax warehouses in Birkenhead and Dublin.

However, the spirits were diverted elsewhere and sold illegally on the open market - without duty of either £5.48 or £7.82 per bottle being paid. The nine men involved, who lived across the country, were jailed for a total of 32 years after the hearing at Southampton Crown Court.

Confiscation cases were then arranged by HM and Customs and Excise to try to claw back as much money as possible.

The hearing was told most of the group had no recoverable assets, while orders were not served against two of the gang.

Rigas Wine company director Ian Maxwell, 54, from Kent, who received a seven-year jail term, was given a £376,846 confiscation order.

Accountant Paul Hansford, 48, of Bassett Avenue, Southampton, who received the same term, was served with a £276,153 order. Ray Hughes, from Lancashire, 44, who was jailed for three years, was given a £150,000 penalty.

The orders were served after investigators examined the defendants' assets.

Amanda Spencer, speaking for for HM Customs and Excise, said: "This case shows that customs are clearly committed to protecting the public and the public purse. These men are paying very dearly for their crimes."

Three other men from Hampshire were jailed for their part in the scam.

John Dennis, 51, of St John's Drive, Marchwood, was given a four year sentence; ex-soldier Paul Mead, 38, of Woodside Close, Marchwood, had a 33-month term imposed and Christopher Screen, 49, of Broomhill Way, Eastleigh, was put behind bars for nine months.