A TRADESMAN has admitted failing to pay more than £100,000 in VAT and Income Tax to the Treasury.

Graham Walker, who repairs cash registers, was said to have failed to make one or both of the payments to HM Revenue and Customs over a period of nine years until February 2014.

Appearing at a preliminary hearing in the case, at Durham Crown Court today (Tuesday March 17), Walker pleaded guilty to both charges put to him.

One was being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of VAT, which was said to have taken place between September 23, 2005, and February 6, 2014.

The second was being knowingly concerned in the evasion of Income Tax, from August 28, 2008, to February 10, last year.

Defence barrister David Callan requested preparation of a background report on the defendant by the Probation Service prior to sentence.

Judge Christopher Prince agreed and bailed Mr Walker, of Whitehouse Avenue, Burnhope, County Durham, to return for sentence on Friday April 17.

A timetable was also set by prosecutor Paul Newcombe for Proceeds of Crime procedure to see what sum of money can be confiscated from the defendant.

The Proceeds of Crime management hearing is scheduled to take place on July 3, with a final confiscation hearing later that month.