A BRICKLAYER who evaded paying more than £23,000 in tax has been spared jail.

A court heard how James Glen Anthony Tunaley, 28, had lied on his Self Assessment returns between 2013 and 2015 to create repayments he was not entitled to.

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A spokesman for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said investigators found income paid into Tunaley’s bank accounts did not match what he declared on his tax returns.

The spokesman said: “James Glen Anthony Tunaley fraudulently claimed more than £30,000 in income tax refunds has been sentenced/jailed.

“Tunaley’s fraudulent activity saw him receive £21,637.12 in phoney tax repayments. A further £10,289.27 was withheld by HMRC.

“When asked what he had done with the money, Tunaley replied ‘I paid bills and stuff like that, just normal stuff, everyday life’.”

Tunaley, of Lowergate Road in Accrington, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of Income Tax at Burnley Crown Court.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and told to complete 100 hours unpaid work. A victim surcharge was also imposed.