THE former face of Safestyle UK, who also works as a Burnley Football Club matchday host, has been convicted of six counts of fraud after evading paying £58,000 in income tax.

Jeff Brown, 51, of Prairie Crescent, Burnley, was taken to court by HM Revenue & Customs after it was revealed he was paid £333,000 over a six-year period for work for the window firm.

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Brown, whose catchphrase was "You buy one, you get one free", captured the imagination of television viewers.

The court heard he also earned £11,000 from being a matchday host and pitch-side presenter at numerous Burnley FC games at Turf Moor.

Burnley Crown Court was told Brown failed to enter a tax return during the examined time period.

When tax officers raided his home they found £15,000 in cash in a bedroom wardrobe.

Brown pleaded guilty to six counts of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of income tax between 2009 and 2014.

He was given a 20-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Tax officials established he had been given commission payments of £333,179 for canvassing and motivational work for the glazing giants.

The money he received did not relate to his television advert work.

Timothy Brennand, defending, said Brown did not realise he should get himself self-employed status, to get himself registered and get a bookkeeper.

Judge Beverley Lunt said Brown was working full-time and he knew he would have to pay tax.

She slammed his lack of action as stupidity.

Brown plays pre-match host to fans in the 1882 Lounge at Turf Moor.

At Monday’s game there was a picture message on the big screen from all the staff at Turf Moor wishing him happy birthday.

The HM Revenue & Customs website offers advice for those who have failed to declare taxable income.