Bristol Pub Landlord Disqualified for Three and a Half Years

The director of OMI Partnership Limited has been disqualified for over three years for trading to the detriment of HM Revenue and Customs.

The limited company, trading as The Albion in a pub near Bristol, the director was appointed from 9th November 2004. Mr Owain George, the former landlord, has received the ban following an investigation by the Insolvency Service who discovered that he had unfairly discriminated against the Revenue and Customs body.

Mr George chose to pay other creditors in advance of the company’s VAT owed to the body for between January 2014 and 13 February 2015.

However, on the 13th February 2015, OMI Partnership Limited went into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation with an estimated deficiency of £627,825 and the owner received a disqualification. There was also an outstanding VAT bill of £180,567.

Due to the disqualification, Mr. George is unable to act as a director of a company, be the receiver of a company’s property or take part in the promotion, management or formation of a limited liability partnership. The ban also means that the disqualified director is unable to be a registered social landlord and is not permitted to undertake a director, trustee or committee member of a social housing association.

The disqualification is in place until August 2020.

Senior investigator in this case, Robert Clarke, says:

“Company directors have a duty to ensure businesses meet their legal obligations, including paying taxes. Deliberate neglect of tax affairs is not a victimless action – it deprives public services of vital money and introduces unfair competition in the business market.

The Insolvency Service will investigate and take action against directors who do not comply with their obligations.”