Ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has been charged with fraud by false representation, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

The 91-year-old billionaire businessman failed to declare overseas assets believed to be worth in excess of £400m, according to investigators.

Simon York, director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said: “This follows a complex and worldwide criminal investigation by HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service.

“The criminal charge relates to projected tax liabilities arising from more than £400m of offshore assets which were concealed from HMRC.

“HMRC is on the side of honest taxpayers and we will take tough action wherever we suspect tax fraud. Our message is clear – no one is beyond our reach.”

The case will first be heard at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 22 August.

Mr Ecclestone’s long-running control of Formula One ended in 2017, when he stepped down as chief executive.

He recently apologised for saying he would “take a bullet” for Vladimir Putin and defending his invasion of Ukraine.

Ecclestone had described the Russian president as a “sensible” and “first class person” who “believed he was doing the right thing for Russia”.

He had also criticised Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not making enough effort to reach out to his Russian rival.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “It would probably be good for me to get some things off my chest as well, things that have been bothering me about what I said and what people think I’ve said.

“Often people, I think, come out and say things or do things without really too much thinking. Probably I did the same, and I can understand people thinking I’m defending what he’s done in Ukraine, which I don’t.”

He went on: “I can’t see anyone getting anything out of this, and I think they should get together and get an agreement.

“And I’m sorry if anything I’ve said has upset anybody because it certainly wasn’t intended.”

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