A HAMPSHIRE roofer who dodged more than £73,000 in tax has been jailed.

Mark Kempster failed to pay the money, despite depositing more than £900,000 into his bank account over six years.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), who investigated Kempster, said the Bursledon resident worked as a roofer between April 2009 and April 2015.

But tax officials say he failed to declare any income to HMRC, complete Self Assessment tax returns, or pay the £73,197 in tax and National Insurance due on his earnings.

Kempster's home, in Grange Road, was searched by HMRC officers in November 2015 and the 52-year-old was arrested.

In March this year he pleaded guilty to being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of Income Tax, and fraudulent evasion of National Insurance Contributions.

He was jailed for 12 months on Monday, during a sentencing at Guildford Crown Court.

HMRC says it also plans to recover the money through civil processes.

Richard Wilkinson, assistant director of the Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC, said:

“We will continue to pursue criminals like Mark Kempster who blatantly attack the tax system and steal funds from the public services we all rely on.

"We ask anyone with information about suspected Income Tax fraud to contact our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

Kempster appeared before Winchester Crown Court last year on separate charges, relating to fraud.

On that occasion, he was ordered to pay back more than £16,000 after he pleaded guilty to overcharging vulnerable, elderly woman for roof repairs across Hampshire.

Kempster approached women in Southampton, Alresford, Andover and Gosport between January 2013 and November 2015 about roof work that was often not required.

He conned one Southampton woman in her 60s of more than £13,000, as well as two Hampshire woman in their 80s.

The 52-year-old also targeted one woman in her 90s from Andover, but did not take any money from her.

A judge ordered Kempster paid back £16,000 to his victims within 28 days, or face an 18 month prison sentence, with the debt still outstanding.