Former bricklayer Jeffrey Bakewell, from Essex, set himself up as a tax adviser but failed to register as a tax agent with HMRC as legally required, did not complete due diligence checks on his clients and failed to keep the records required by the Money Laundering Regulations.

Bakewell’s clients were mainly crane drivers but also included builders and other construction industry workers. They made claims for travel and subsistence payments but HMRC investigators found these had been covered by their employers.

A total of £1,507,965 was paid to Bakewell between 2009 and 2015. He kept £301,897 and used it to finance his gambling while the rest went to his clients.

Bakewell admitted tax fraud and was jailed for five years at Chelmsford Crown Court on 26 June.

Confiscation proceedings to recover the money he stole have begun and money is being recovered from Bakewell’s clients for the false repayments by civil means.

Paul Barton, assistant director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: ‘Bakewell had no financial qualifications and set himself up solely to advise people on fraud. He charged for advice on how to steal money from our vital public services but his appalling conduct has now put him behind bars.

‘We will not allow criminals to attack the tax system and cheat the honest majority. Anyone helping tax fraudsters can expect to end up in court.’