‘Al Capone’ tax evader flees court before sentencing

Nigel Harker made £30,000 trading goods while in prison but did not tell the taxman
George Sandeman
The Times
The judge made reference to the notorious mobster, played by Robert De Niro in the 1987 film The Untouchables
The judge made reference to the notorious mobster, played by Robert De Niro in the 1987 film The Untouchables
ALAMY
George Sandeman
The Times

A prisoner who was compared to Al Capone by a judge after being convicted for tax evasion left court last week before he could be sentenced.

Nigel Harker, who has 256 previous convictions, made £30,000 trading goods while behind bars but admitted to not declaring his earnings to HMRC, Newcastle crown court was told.

Harker, 47, was trading in 2020 while serving a sentence for tax fraud at HMP Northumberland, the Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported. The size of the bill he evaded was estimated to be £3,080.

Nigel Harker was sentenced to 19 months in jail
Nigel Harker was sentenced to 19 months in jail
NCJMEDIA

Harker, who was on bail, attended the sentencing hearing on Friday. Judge Stephen Earl compared the case to the FBI prosecution of Capone in 1931, saying “I think I’ve seen the film actually … when the FBI got