A pizza boss who 'cooked the books' at stores in Catford and Bromley has been jailed for tax fraud.

HMRC's Fraud Investigation service said the Bromley man's "greed was his downfall," after he under-declared his pizzeria's income, evading a total of £669,000 in Income Tax, National Insurance and Corporation Tax.

Abassin Badshah, of Quernmore Close, Bromley, was the franchisee of a Papa John’s pizza takeaway in Catford, Lewisham.

Last week the 35-year-old was jailed for four years following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Badshah suppressed the true sales figures for the Papa John’s takeaway he ran at 223 Bromley Road, Bellingham, London, to evade Income Tax and National Insurance.

He is also the franchisee for Papa John's at 3 Market Parade, 41 East Street, Bromley. Papa John's were not subject to the criminal investigation or court proceedings.

Badshah also submitted fraudulent VAT and Corporation Tax returns during the seven-year period in which he committed the offences.

On March 12, 2021, at Southwark Crown Court, he was found guilty of five charges after a two-week trial and was sentenced to four years in prison.

He has also been disqualified as a director for five years.

Richard Wilkinson, Assistant Director of the Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Badshah’s greed was his downfall. He under-declared his pizzeria’s income because he wanted to keep more of it for himself and his dishonest actions have resulted in today’s sentence.

“I urge anyone with information about any type of tax fraud to report it online or contact the HMRC fraud hotline on 0800 788 887.”