Blaine Wakeman lied about purchases and financial losses from his two companies that provided children’s sports coaching to fraudulently claim VAT repayments.

HMRC checks raised concerns over the tax returns of Wakeman’s companies Sports Plus Scheme Staffordshire and Inspire Sports Education Limited and a criminal investigation was launched in June 2016.

Wakeman, a PE teacher in Solihull, initially denied any wrongdoing and produced fake invoices and bank statements to support his lies but in October 2017 he admitted producing the false documents and fraudulently claiming VAT repayments between October 2013 and August 2016.

Wakeman used the cash to fund an online gambling habit. He also spent money on lifestyle expenses, including holidays, Leeds United football matches and golf memberships.

Richard Young, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: ‘Wakeman knew what he was doing was wrong. He was abusing the tax system to fund a lifestyle he could not legitimately afford.’

Report by Amy Austin