THE director of this year's Bolton panto — set to be staged at the Macron Stadium — has been spared jail over a £30,000 tax scam.

Sentencing Scott Clarkson to a 16-month suspended jail term a judge told the Jack and the Beanstalk director he was keeping him out of prison so the show could go on.

Theatre company Fame Factory Spotlight is due to stage the panto at the Bolton Whites Hotel at the Macron Stadium with the Premier Suite being transformed into a 1,000-seat auditorium.

Among the cast are Coronation Street's Graeme Hawley, Emmerdale and Casualty star Chelsea Halfpenny and TV favourite Tam Ryan alongside Carrie Hobson, of Farnsworth, who bagged the role of Jill through open auditions.

Clarkson is due to write and direct the show.

Judge Christopher Prince said: "Not only are you a man of otherwise good character but of positive good character who has made a significant contribution to charities in recent years.

"It’s apparent to me that you will make a significant contribution in years to come.

"I note that at Christmas this year you will, through one of your companies, be staging a panto at Bolton Wanderers FC where, with any luck, a potential audience of up to 38,000 will attend over the course of the run and a large amount of money will be raised.

"It’s a paradox that there you are raising significant sums for charity while failing immeasurably in an utterly amateurish attempt to obtain a refund on VAT."

Clarkson admitted two counts of fraudulent evasion of VAT, one of knowingly sending documents to HMRC with intent to deceive and one of possession of articles for use in fraud.

Durham Crown Court heard he submitted false VAT refund forms and when Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) asked for proof he falsified invoices for non-existent purchases of sound systems, lighting and costumes from genuine suppliers.

The 41-year-old, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, tried to hoodwink the taxpayer out of £32,517, the court heard.

A spokesman for Bolton Whites Hotel said: "Having only just been alerted to the case and the subsequent hearing, we have taken immediate steps and launched our own inquiry.

"We appreciate there may be some uncertainty about the pantomime but we are speaking to all parties involved and once we are in a position to update further, we will do so."

Speaking after the case, Clarkson said: "I made a foolish mistake and I’m not making any excuses.

"I was under a lot of pressure at the time and I was let down by a couple of accountants, although I cannot prove that.

"But, fortunately, because I have done other positive stuff in the past, I got away with a lighter sentence and that has given me a little bit of leeway."

There are 38 scheduled performances of Jack and the Beanstalk between December 4 and January 3.

Fame Factory Spotlight is yet to comment.