HOTEL owner Martin Hill has been jailed for tax fraud.

Hill, 51, pocketed £350,000 by lying about the number of bookings at his hotels — Burlington Hotel in Sandown and Shanklin Beach Hotel in Shanklin.

An investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed Hill lied about his takings to evade tax. He has now been jailed for 30 months.

Hill, of Alicante, Spain, under-declared sales for the two hotels between March 2014 and April 2016 and pocketed the VAT he charged guests.

Ben Moore, assistant director of HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service, said: "Hill lied to steal and cheat honest taxpayers. Instead of enjoying the proceeds of his crime, he will now be spending time behind bars.

"Tax fraud steals money from our public services such as hospitals and schools. Anyone with information about suspected tax fraud can report it to HMRC online or call our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887."

Hill was arrested in September 2016 following searches at his home and hotels, with investigators seizing computers, business and personal records.

In April 2019, at Southwark Crown Court, Hill pleaded guilty to three charges of VAT evasion.

He was sentenced to 30 months in jail on June 10 at Southwark. He has also been banned as a director for seven years.

Shanklin Beach Hotel has been under new ownership since June 2017.

Confiscation proceedings are underway to recover the stolen money.

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