A corrupt accountant from Birmingham has been jailed today for defrauding the British taxpayer of over £1m in unpaid VAT.

Muhammad Butt, owner of accountancy firm ABMG Business Services, was asked by HMRC to provide documents he held for two businesses that were under investigation. But despite receiving a court order in March 2010 he refused to hand over the paperwork.

The businesses, Chand Bridal by Khushboo and Kushboo by Chand, were owned by Birmingham fashion designer and trader Amer Raza Ahmed who originally failed to tell HMRC about them. Ahmed eventually declared the Chand Bridal by Khushboo element of his business but then, with his accountant Muhammad Butt, submitted VAT and tax returns that under-declared turnover and profits estimated to be in excess of £4m.

Adrian Farley, HMRC's assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said: 'Butt abused his position and profession. He continually failed to meet his legal responsibilities to provide information in a bid to cover up a serious crime, against the British taxpayer. His deceit has landed him behind bars and justice has been served.'

Butt of Reservoir Road, Erdington, Birmingham, was arrested in August 2010 and paperwork and computers were seized from his home and business premises.

Ahmed, of Kingswood Road, Moseley, Birmingham, was deemed unfit to stand trial but was found by a jury to have committed the act of not declaring the correct level of income for his businesses over a number of years.

He had also failed to pay substantial levels of income tax and VAT due to HMRC, believed to be in excess of £1m.

Both were sentenced today - 10 May 2013 at Birmingham Crown Court.

Butt, 37, was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison, while Ahmed, 39, was found to have committed the acts, but deemed unfit to stand trial.

He was sentenced to a two year supervision order with provisions under the Mental Health Act to include treatment to allow his health to improve sufficiently for him to fully answer the current charges.