U-boat 'captain' arrested

THE man who converted a narrowboat into the shape of a U-boat, had his boat raided by Customs, Border Agency and police officials, and has been arrested.

Richard Williams was arrested late last week on his boat that was moored on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Leeds as part of a fraud investigation, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Taken away for questioning

HM Revenue & Customs officers raided the boat as it was moored behind the Royal Armouries Museum taking him away for questioning while other officers made a thorough search of the vessel.

A Customs spokesman confirmed that its officers, assisted by UK Border Agency officers, together with the police, carried out an early morning raid on the boat and that the self-styled captain was arrested as part of Operation Cloudcastle.

VAT and money laundering

This operation concerns suspected VAT repayment fraud throughout the North East  and money laundering of criminal profits by businesses over several years

The boat that was featured in narrowboatworld was converted from a narrowboat shell into its new shape and fitted out inside with replica U-boat fitting at at cost of £60,000.

It has a periscope and dummy torpedoes made from plastic tubes, and Richard uses it as a floating museum to remind children about the horrors of war.