A £30,000 tax cheat who breached a suspended sentence order has been given a final chance by a judge.

Burnley Crown Court heard how self-employed bricklayer James Glen Tunaley was given a nine-month prison sentence in March 2017 after admitting to 10 counts of being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of income tax, but it was suspended for 12 months.

That was after Tunaley, of Lowergate Road, Huncoat, lied on his self-assessment returns between 2013 and 2015 to collect tax rebates by submitting fictitiously large amounts of expenditure.

As part of that sentence he was ordered to complete 100 hours’ unpaid work.

Prosecuting, Richard Bennett said Tunaley had completed just 13 of those unpaid work hours.

The court was told Tunaley had been suffering with depression and failed to attend two probation service appointments in September and October.

Although he had a valid reason for not attending the appointments, supported by a doctor’s note, he failed to provide it to his probation officer within the required five days.

Defending, Philip Holden said: “The defendant has provided a number of sick notes relating to his depression to the probation service.

“His position is he tried to to get an appointment with his doctor.

“He was unable to get one until October 3, by which time the five days had lapsed. He has shown me a series of Whatsapp messages to the probation service in which the notes are provided.

“One of which covers the period that is referred to.

“It was provided to them but it was provided to them late.

“He is going back to work now after eight or nine months because of his depression.

He has been given a contract in the Ribble Valley to assist in building houses, which is a fairly long contract.”

Judge Beverley Lunt adjourned sentencing until February 23 to give Tunaley a chance to complete some more of his unpaid hours.

Judge Lunt said: “I want to see how many hours you get done now.

“If your health is good enough to work it is good enough to do these hours.”