A fisherman has admitted conning the taxman out of more than £43,000.
Self-employed David McHale was charged with setting up a fraudulent scheme after it emerged that he had failed to declare his income to the HMRC.
An investigation was launched in May 2015 after a routine check suggested the 55-year-old had failed to register his earnings.
Yesterday, McHale admitted the fraudulent scheme which resulted in him not paying £13,089 in national insurance and £30,738 in income tax between April 2005 and April 2014.
At the time of the offence he was living on King Street, Peterhead.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that fishermen classed as self-employed shared the profits of a fishing boat and were registered in a share scheme with the HMRC.
Investigating officers were able to check a fishing industry database and discovered that McHale, now of King Brae Park, Newport on Tay, had failed to register his earnings.
Sheriff Andrew Miller asked: “The HMRC received information about shares paid to McHale, shares of profits of fishing trips, and cross-referred that to their records of tax paid by Mr McHale?”
Mr Townsend replied: “Yes. That is it in a nutshell.”
Sheriff Miller said: “I am going to adjourn this case until a later date for sentence to allow for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report and assessment of your suitability for a restriction of liberty order so I will have the full range of options.”
McHale deferred sentence for the preparation of background reports until November 6.