Conman's sporting luxuries auctioned off

The treasure trove of luxuries – including Muhammed Ali's boxing shorts and Wayne Rooney's football boots – once belonged to Thomas 'Tommy' Scragg.

He is currently in jail following three separate convictions.

The collection of goods – worth a total of £675,000 - was funded by a life of crime.

Around 400 people flocked to an auction of the goods at Wilson Auctions in Northern Ireland and a further 917 bids were made online.

Among the items to be sold was a framed picture of George Best and a copy of his birth certificate, which fetched £125.

A framed England shirt signed by 13 players netted £600 and a Carlos Tevez signed boot in a perspex case brought in £1,000.

Items of jewellery also amassed by Scragg went under the hammer and brought in some of the higher amounts. A man's Cartier watch was sold for £9,000, while a ladies Cartier watch with a diamond set bracelet brought in £12,000.

The highest lot of the day was a David Morris 18 carat white gold diamond set of necklace, bracelet and earrings which sold for £28,000.

Money raised will now go back into the public purse.

Scragg, aged 57, of Solihull, was jailed for 17 years in 2012 for his involvement in a tax fraud.

He was often seen as a friend of the stars and was pictured alongside some of his sporting heroes.

The luxury items were seized from Scragg's country house in 2008 during a raid by police.

Scragg's Wolverhampton-based company Moya Payroll managed staff wages for several construction industry companies but he used the firm as a front to steal more than £26 million in tax.

Another investigation by West Midlands Police uncovered a further £8m of stolen PAYE tax.

Officers from the force's Regional Asset Recovery Team – RART – used the Proceeds of Crime Act to sell Scragg's collection and put the money back into the public purse.

Tinsley, from the RART, said: "It's our job to ensure Scragg never gets to reap the rewards of ripping off the taxpayer."