Their defence would be that they genuinely planned to do all these business things
I have to disagree. If, as you claim, a VAT refund was claimed on a bogus business expense or cost the above is barely even mitigation let alone a defense.
Just to be sure I wrote to HMRC enclosing a copy of your post asking them to investigate. I have yet to receive a reply of course.
an intentional fraud, including a forged bank instrument proving they had enough funds to purchase all the aircraft they contracted for
This is true, and I have a copy of the bank instrument. Interestingly, when I was "working" for Unique Air (and therefore with an interest in its authenticity) I took this to my own bank for an opinion as to what it was. I was told that it was a genuine document but in the name of a company which bore no resemblance to the name Unique Air, and if you read the document carefully you can see this is so. However, once again, this, whilst it MAY have been used to convince prospective suppliers, is no defence against the fraud you allege.
Subsequent to the realisation that we weren't ever going to be properly employed several of us made complaints to the relevant auhorities and to the CAA. Nothing happened. As I have said before I think the greatest recourse achieved against Sedgely and Davies is this thread. I know it got up their noses by their threats and PMs posing often as others. I hope it still does. Similarly it did, I think, make their names somewhat notorious within aviation circles. Additionally I gratefully received a couple of invitations to send in my CV to prospective new employers after I had posted here, and I know one Unique Air victim who, perhaps indirectly, commenced work with one of these employers subsequently.
However, in spite of what you claim, I myself am of the opinion there was no great fraud, or payment received, they were just sad individuals on an ego trip which failed.
Carbonfibre, cheers, all good, as I trust is the same with you.