A PIZZA shop owner has admitted charges of both VAT and Income Tax fraud relating to his business returns.

Martin Clark pleaded guilty to five charges at a hearing at Durham Crown Court, but disputes the amounts involved.

The self-employed businessman admitted fraudulent evasion of VAT in returns said to suppress his liability, between August 2015 and November 2019.

He also admitted four counts of fraudulent evasion of income tax in his self-assessment declarations for his earnings from the business, between 2017 and 2020, all relating to the Av-a Pizza, in South Hetton.

But Chris Knox for Clark said although his client admitted the offences, he disputes the amounts involved.

Mr Knox said the admissions only relate to the South Hetton premises, as his client does not accept any involvement in ownership of another Av-A Pizza shop, in Ryhope, Sunderland.

Judge James Adkin adjourned the hearing for a half-day listed trial of issue to resolve the sums on which sentence will be based.

He bailed the defendant, 33, of Hedgelea Road, East Rainton, until the hearing, on June 11.