The final three men in a multi-million pound fraud conspiracy relating to a chain of car washes in Bradford and Leeds have been sentenced.

Mark Richard Nelson, 45, of The Lilacs, Guiseley; Bradford-born Craig Bower, 33, of Waterside Road, Rodley; and Stephen Farman, 50, of Tall Trees, Hessle, Hull, pleaded guilty to fraud offences relating to a chain of nine car washes and were each given 12-month sentences, suspended for 12 months.

Yesterday’s sentencing at Leeds Crown Court marked the end of a six-year investigation by police, the Regional Asset Recovery Team and HM Revenue and Customs which ended the 30-year criminal career of the ringleader, John Alfred Elam, 52, of Leeds.

Elam was jailed for nine years following three trials during which he pleaded guilty to stealing creditors’ money through a series of frauds at the car washes and at the Medina restaurant in Leeds.

Elam would run the businesses under different operating companies which ran up debts, which were not paid, before the companies were dissolved – only to then be replaced by ‘new’ firms. Some of these firms were based overseas in an attempt to further mask his involvement.

Transactions were always made by his ‘front men’, who included Bradford solicitor, Philip Brown, 53, of Ilkley, who was previously jailed for three-and-a-half years for his involvement in the conspiracy and was ordered to repay £137,000 out of the £5.2 million he gained during his crimes.

Nelson and Farman were each jailed for two years in March 2009 for their part in the fraudulent activity at the Medina.

Russell Spence, a former Formula 3000 racing driver who lived near Skipton, and Bower also assisted Elam in the car wash fraud and Spence was jailed for 13 months last week.

Elam made a total of £10 million and lived a lavish lifestyle. He was ordered to pay back £2 million in six months at a confiscation hearing last month or face a further six years in jail.

Four other men were jailed at previous hearings for perverting the course of justice. Howard Fowler, 54, of Bradford, was jailed for 18 months in March 2007 while William Henry Young, 54, of Carlisle, was given two years in June 2007. Paul Mooney, 68, of Bradford, received six months in March 2009 and Paul Bane, 56, of Silsden, was given a ten-month suspended sentence.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ingrid Lee said: “I am delighted that the hard work and perseverance of the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation has resulted in the disruption of Elam’s illegal enterprises for good.”