A landlord, developer and former estate agent with links to one of the UK’s better-known franchisee agencies has been convicted of tax fraud following an HMRC investigation.

Michael Charles Waddingham, 44, was sentenced on Friday to two years in prison suspended for two years and has been ordered to pay back £281,000 in unpaid tax, plus a fine of £200,000.

The court case and conviction followed an investigation that found Waddingham had not submitted tax returns between 2008 and 2012. He failed to declare rental income from 17 properties as well as income from seven land and property development companies from which he earned over £100,000, the court heard.

These included property development firm Chantry Estates (London) Ltd and land and property development company Chantry Estates (South East) Ltd of London (W2).

The HMRC says Waddingham was also employed in Teddington for an undisclosed estate agent between 2007 and 2012 where he paid tax as a PAYE employee.

After being arrested in 2015, HMRC forensic accountants worked with Waddingham’s accountants to work out how much he would have to repay, and he admitted the fraud on 17th January of this year.

Waddingham, who is also a part owner of several racehorses, in addition to his fine received a 200 hours community work order and must observe a six-month long night-time curfew and wear an electronic tag.