David Hay, 56, from Hyvot Grove, ran firms that oversaw major building and renovation works in Edinburgh, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

He was fully aware of his obligations to charge and pay VAT and admitted to HM Revenue and Customs investigators that he “just never got round to paying over the VAT” – in spite of his claim that he knew he would “get caught eventually”.

Anne Marie Gordon, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Crooks like Hay create an uneven playing field, undercutting the honest businesses who do pay what is due.

“That’s something we won’t tolerate. Instead of passing on the VAT he charged customers to fund vital public services, he chose to keep it for himself even though he knew we would catch him.”