Rise and fall of blame-claim boss

Mark Langford studied law but never qualified

It was his fortune that led Mark Langford to Marbella in Spain and his fast cars that may have led to his death.

But it will be the sacking of 2,500 members of staff by text message that the multi-millionaire business magnate is likely to be remembered for.

Mark Langford was brought up in Greater Manchester and trained as a solicitor although he never qualified.

Instead he started Motorlaw, a claims company, at 27 before launching The Accident Group (TAG) in 1999.

As business soared, his personal life dipped when, in 2000, he was cleared of death by dangerous driving but convicted of careless driving.

Jobless and penniless

Mr Langford driving a red Ferrari struck 73-year-old pensioner William Thornley as he crossed the road.

Passing sentence, the judge said Mr Langford had been driving a powerful car like a "frustrated teenager".

More bad fortune was to follow in 2003, when his business collapsed.

Mark and Debbie Langford enjoyed the high life

TAG, already well-known for the slogan, 'Where's there's blame, there's a claim', became even more famous when it hit the headlines for sacking its staff in a text message.

They had been told, via mobile phone: "Urgent. Unfortunately salaries not paid. Please do not contact office. Full details to follow later today."

Thousands were left jobless and penniless but Mr Langford and his wife, Debbie, a fellow director in the firm, took their millions overseas.

Leaving their 24-acre estate in Cheshire behind, they moved into a five-bedroomed rented villa in one of Marbella's most exclusive resorts.

Their two daughters were sent to an £11,000-a-year private school and Mr Langford became a regular at the Real Club de Golf Las Brisas which has a £80,000 joining fee.

But as he and his family enjoyed the high life, the taxman's net was closing in.

Yacht party

Mr Langford was coming under increasing pressure to explain how his company had folded owing around £100m just months after he helped himself to millions in dividends.

And last month, just as he was set to throw a party on Mermaid's Whisper, his £1.4m yacht, a British tax official came aboard to hand him two writs for £4.1m.

Depression and poor health kept Mr Langford from attending a bankruptcy hearing at the High Court in London, according to his solicitor.

But despite his death in an unexplained car crash on Monday night, legal experts say repayment of tax is likely to be pursued through his estate.