A porn magazine distributor has been jailed after fraudulently claiming VAT repayments worth almost £75,000.

Kenneth Drake, 55, was jailed for 16 months, after pleading guilty to submitting false VAT repayment claims to HM Revenue & Customers (HMRC) by producing fake documents to support the claim relating to purchases and sale of adult pornographic magazines and DVD for his company Top Shelf.

HMRC officers discovered that Drake, of Walderslade Road, Chatham, claimed to have paid VAT on goods purchased from three companies which did not exists.

When questioned, he admitted creating the false paperwork to claim the VAT payments.

He admitted the VAT fraud offences in July and was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday. In total he claimed £74,900 he was not entitled to.

Martin Brown, assistant director, HMRC criminal investigation said: "Drake got greedy and today's sentence is a warning to anyone considering committing this type of fraud.

"HMRC are clamping down on VAT fraudsters, and we are investing more time and resources than ever to identify tax cheats and bring them to justice."

Anyone with information about individuals or businesses involved in this type of fraud, should call the customs hotline on 0800 595000 or email: customs.hotline@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk