Richard Barr was convicted of abusing his position within HMRC, for warning Darren Oliver and Wayne Cockerill, also from Birmingham, of their impending arrest, where searches would take place and told them to destroy or hide evidence.

Mr Oliver and Mr Cockerill pleaded guilty to a £557,000 VAT fraud in March 2013 after an investigation codenamed Operation Ladderback was conducted by HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS).

Mr Barr’s criminal involvement with the two only emerged in late 2012 during the proceedings being taken against them. HMRC’s Internal Governance team immediately started an investigation into Mr Barr and he was arrested in December 2012.

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Joff Parsons, Head of Internal Governance Criminal Investigations, HMRC, said: “As a criminal investigator, Richard Barr was expected to act with absolute honesty and integrity. Instead, he despicably abused his position. His actions were a gross abuse of the public’s trust.

He added: “HMRC will not tolerate misconduct, and are quick to thoroughly investigate the very small number of employees whose behaviour falls below what is expected.”

Mr Barr had denied the charges against him but was found guilty of Misconduct in Public Office after a trial at Manchester Crown Court in January 2015. At the same court this week, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

In sentencing Barr, His Honour Judge Atherton said: “During the time you were an HMRC officer you became aware of the over half a million pound fraud perpetrated by good friends. You tipped them off and provided guidance and advice which they followed. As a former Police and Customs Officer you know the public expect a high level of integrity, and confidentiality is of prime importance. Your previous good character does not count.”

Reporting restrictions placed on this case have now been lifted.