Sokrum Ahmed, who owns Red Chilli in Whitechapel, East London, stole the £117,000 in VAT which he charged customers on online delivery orders, over a four year period. He also under-declared sales to diners who ate at the restaurant in his accounts.

HMRC investigators found Ahmed had used a secret bank account in an attempt to hide the money.

On sentencing, His Honour Judge W Kennedy said: ‘As well as being a fraud on HMRC this was a fraud on your customers.

‘You were thoroughly dishonest, and for a sustained period, and I should send you to prison, but I'm determined there should be no further loss to the public purse.’

Ahmed was given a two-year suspended jail sentence, fined £75,000, ordered to pay compensation and undertake unpaid work.

Report by Amy Austin