A delivery driver in Cornwall who failed to pay £18,000 in Income Tax and National Insurance on self-employed earnings has been sentenced.

Robert Harris, 34, worked as a self-employed driver delivering newspapers and magazines across Cornwall. He was paid over £106,000 between April 2008 and January 2013, money that should have been declared to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on Self Assessment returns.

Colin Spinks, an assistant director at HMRC, said: “Harris stole £18,000 from public finances and would probably have continued his fraud had HMRC officers not stopped him. Our message is clear – we will always investigate people suspected of tax fraud. We ask anyone with information about this type of crime to contact the Tax Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

Harris pleaded guilty at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on 8 September and was sentenced at the same court on 9 October. He must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay a £60 victim surcharge.

HMRC will seek to recover the money through civil processes.

Harris lived in Bodmin when the offences took place, but now resides in Newquay.

During the same period Harris also worked as a chef at various locations, but paid tax on that work as an employee.