Small builder Harry Rowbottom was also ordered to repay £65,000 within six months or face a further two years and three months in jail.

HM Revenue & Customs investigators discovered that Rowbottom set up his general building and gas fitting business in 1983.

He worked across North Lincolnshire and Humberside but never declared his earnings to HMRC.

Detailed enquiries revealed that over a 27 year period Rowbottom evaded around £65,000 of Income Tax and National Insurance.

He was arrested at his home address in Barton upon Humber and pleaded guilty to fraud at Grimsby Crown Court.

Mike Preston, HMRC Assistant Director Criminal Investigation, said: “Rowbottom decided to set-up his business but did not register to pay Income Tax or National Insurance.

“This gave him an unfair advantage over his law abiding business competitors.”

This sentencing follows a number of HMRC investigations targeting plumbers, gas fitters and heating engineers who failed to take advantage of the opportunity offered during last year’s Gas Safe and Plumbers Tax Safe Plan (PTSP), to put their tax affairs in order.

Those who came forward have already paid over £4m in outstanding tax and HMRC continue to pursue those who have not yet declared their correct tax position.

Mike Wells, HMRC Director of Risk and Intelligence Services, said: “We want people targeted by any HMRC campaign to come forward and use the opportunity to put the record straight and pay any tax due on the best possible terms.

“It really is better for people who owe tax to come to HMRC, before we come and find you.”