Harry Redknapp: 'I don't fiddle taxes'

Harry Redknapp told police he has paid "fortunes in income tax" and did not "fiddle anybody", a court has heard.

The Spurs boss is accused of receiving untaxed payments from Milan Mandaric during their time at Portsmouth.

He said his family were "givers, not takers" and he would rather "give you £100,000 than nick a few quid off you".

Mr Redknapp said he should have told his accountant about a Monaco account where the payments were made, jurors heard.

In an interview with police in 2009, played to Southwark Crown Court, Mr Redknapp said: "I don't fiddle anybody. I pay my taxes.

"I've been in football all my life. I've paid fortunes in income tax."

He added: "To try and nick a few quid off the income tax... Why? I am not into that. I don't need that.

"I'd rather give you £100,000 than nick a few quid off you.

'Make some money'

"That's how I live. I have got a golf [charity] day tomorrow... I give £15,000 tomorrow to Leukaemia Busters."

The court heard during his time at Portsmouth he was earning £35-£40,000 a week.

The football boss also told police his home was at risk after losing millions of pounds in disastrous investments, jurors heard.

He said he lost £6m in a property venture in Southsea, Portsmouth, and squandered £250,000 in a failed takeover bid at Oxford United.

The court heard he put the money forward to help his friend Jim Smith maintain his role as manager at the club.

Earlier, Mr Redknapp was heard during interviews saying he never wanted the "Rosie 47" Monaco account - named after his dog and year of birth - the court heard.

The prosecution alleges Mr Mandaric made untaxed payments totalling $295,000 (about £189,000)

The prosecution alleges Mr Mandaric made untaxed payments totalling $295,000 (about £189,000) into the Monaco account when he was chairman and Mr Redknapp was manager of the south coast side.

The Tottenham boss said he never asked how much was going into it and just hoped Mr Mandaric would "make me some money", jurors heard.

It has been previously heard that he thought the tax had already been paid by Mr Mandaric.

Mr Redknapp, 64, who lives in Poole, Dorset, and Mr Mandaric, 73, of Oadby, Leicestershire, each deny two charges of cheating the public revenue.

The first of the two charges alleges that, between 1 April 2002 and 28 November 2007, Mr Mandaric paid $145,000 (£93,100) into a bank account held by Mr Redknapp in Monaco, to avoid paying income tax and National Insurance.

The second charge for the same offence relates to a sum of $150,000 (£96,300) allegedly paid by Mr Mandaric to the same account between 1 May 2004 and 28 November 2007.

Tottenham have confirmed Mr Redknapp will be in the dugout when his side take on Watford at Vicarage Road in the FA Cup later.

The trial continues.