A man who deliberately avoided paying tax on the income he received, instead using the money to live a luxury lifestyle, has been jailed following a five year investigation.

Michael Adams, 53, of Windermere Avenue, Finchley, was sentenced to 38 months in prison on Friday after the joint investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

As part of the second strand of an investigation, known as ‘Octopod’, the finances of Michael Adams were analysed as he appeared to be living a luxury lifestyle, despite the fact he only had a small amount of legitimately declared income.

Adams pleaded guilty to a charge of cheating the public revenue contrary to common law on January 9.

At Croydon Crown Adams pleaded guilty to cheating HMRC out of a minimum of £300,000 between 6 April 2006 and 2 April 2014.

A total of 10 people were convicted and sentenced in relation to ‘Octopod 2’ after a trial in August last year.

Detective Superintendent Nick Stevens, Head of the Met’s Criminal Finance Team, said: “Adams deliberately avoided paying tax on the income he received from a fraudulent business. The undeclared income was used to fund a luxury lifestyle including private school fees for four of his children, purchasing high value vehicles and taking an annual seven-week long summer holiday with his family to Portugal.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mick Gallagher, head of the Met’s Organised Crime Command, said: “This conviction marks the end of Operation Octopod, a five-year long investigation into an organised criminal network involving several members of the same family.

“This investigation is a stunning example of how diligence and meticulous financial investigations can disrupt organised crime groups, who have traditionally enjoyed a reputation of being untouchable by law enforcement agencies.”