A FATHER and son who swept their £70,000 tax evasion under the carpet through their flooring business bought a house and a Mercedes with a personalised number plate with their illicit earnings.

Rockwell Adams Jr and Rockwell Adams Snr pocketed more than £35,000 each in income tax and National Insurance contributions after lying about their income between April 2009 and April 2015.

The self-employed pair, both of Starmer Crescent, in Darlington, failed to declare thousands of pounds in income to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), who investigated the duo in 2017.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Adams Jr, 33, pocketed £37,607 worth of tax contributions and while working as a carpet fitter and landscape gardener.

His father, Adams Snr, 62, ran the Norton Carpet Centre, in Stockton, and took home £35,459.06 in undeclared tax.

A trial date had been set for the Adams family as they pleaded not guilty to a single charge of fraudulently evading income tax, however they both later pleaded guilty and were sentenced this week.

Adams Jr admitted his income totalled £173,122 for the period, however he only declared £44,800. Adams Snr confirmed his income amounted to £178,456, but declared just £54,525 to the taxman.

The Crown Prosecution alleged the tax evasion for the father and son had totalled more than £195,000, however the sum was disputed and later agreed that it stood at more than £70,000.

Adams Jr was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. He must also complete 150 hours unpaid work.

His father, Adams Snr, was also handed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years and he will face a four-month curfew.

Proceedings are under way to recover the stolen money.

A HMRC spokesman said: “Both father and son showed total disregard for the tax system to line their own pockets. They thought they could keep their real earnings hidden, but they were wrong.

“HMRC will pursue criminals who think stealing tax is acceptable. We encourage anyone with information about tax fraud to report it to us online, or contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800-788887.”