A JET-SETTING construction worker who stole £93,000 from the taxman and spent it on foreign holidays and executive boxes at football matches has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Kevin Charles Houshby, 56, of Mowbray Villas, South Shields, lied to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about income and expenses for his business, KCH Water and Engineering Services, to evade paying the correct amount of tax.

He also failed to register for or pay VAT despite trading above the threshold since January 2012.

Houshby used the money to pay for holidays across Europe, the USA and Canada, including New York, Las Vegas, Disneyland and two weeks in a luxury Marbella apartment.

He also regularly attended Sunderland AFC football games, occasionally hiring executive suites on match days, and travelled to Ukraine to watch England at Euro 2012.

Cheryl Burr, an assistant director with HMRC's fraud investigation service, said: “Houshby stole from the public purse to fund a luxury lifestyle beyond his means. 

“HMRC will continue to pursue those criminals who attack the tax system.

"If you know of anyone committing tax fraud you can report them online or by calling the HMRC fraud hotline on 0800 788 887.”

The fraud was uncovered after checks on Houshby’s bank accounts revealed he had provided false information on his income tax self assessment returns between 2012 and 2015.

Investigators found he had under-declared income and exaggerated expenses – including a £14,000 accommodation bill – supported by phoney invoices.

Houshby also used forged documents to claim a £10,232 tax repayment he was not entitled to and failed to declare his true income on VAT returns.

He admitted income tax and VAT fraud at Newcastle Crown Court and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and 150 hours unpaid work.