The disgraced lawyer who led the witch hunt against Iraq war veterans hid assets including houses and even guitars to avoid paying his £7 million debts.

Phil Shiner, who has already been struck off for dishonesty, spent six months transferring properties, limited edition guitars and artwork before finally declaring himself bankrupt.

Shiner, 61, was paid millions of pounds by the taxpayer - through legal aid and in court costs - to bring thousands of cases, many of them bogus, against British troops for alleged abuse, including claims of unlawful killing of Iraqis.

But he declared himself bankrupt in march 2017 after being struck off for dishonesty over false claims made against soldiers.

Now the Insolvency Service has uncovered a series of financial deals struck by Shiner before he went bust to avoid paying his huge debts. It has extended his bankruptcy to six years following his “unacceptable behaviour”.