PRESS NOTICE
NOTTINGHAM COUNTY COURT No 8 of 2003
DIRECTOR OF NOTTINGHAM SECURITY COMPANY NOT SAFE TO BE A DIRECTOR
The director of a security services business which failed with total debts estimated at around £216,000 has been disqualified in the Nottingham County Court for 5 years from acting as a company director.
James Michael Vernon of Nugent Gardens, St Anns, Nottingham was a director of New Image Security Group Limited which carried an business from premises at 143 Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham.
The Disqualification Order made on 11 April 2003 prevents James Michael Vernon from being a director a company or, in any way, whether directly or indirectly, being concerned or taking part in the promotion, formation or management of a company for 5 years.
The company was placed into compulsory liquidation by Order of the High Court of Justice on 28 February 2001 on the petition of The Commissioners of Customs & Excise for £29,903 owed in respect of Value Added Tax. The company has an estimated total deficiency of £216,556.
The Official Receiver at Nottingham had conduct of the investigation and brought the disqualification proceedings on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Matters of unfit conduct, found by the Court, included that James Michael Vernon:
1. Caused or allowed New Image Security Group Limited and/or New Image Guarding Ltd and New Image Retail Ltd to trade to the detriment of the Inland Revenue for the period 4 January 2000 to September 2000 who are owed at least £165,143 in the proceedings
2. Following the liquidation of New Image Security Ltd allowed New Image Security Group Ltd to trade from 4 January 2000 to September 2000 using a name that was prohibited to him in that it was so similar as to suggest an association with New Image Security Ltd contrary to section 216 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
Breach of a Disqualification Order is a criminal offence and can be reported to the Insolvency Service.
Notes to Editors
1. The Insolvency Service is an executive agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. Official Receivers report unfit conduct as liquidators in winding ups by the court (compulsory liquidations). Insolvency practitioners report in voluntary liquidations, administrative receiverships and administrations.
2. The Insolvency Service considers the reports, investigates and applies for disqualification where appropriate.
2. A court can disqualify directors for between two and 15 years for unfit conduct. A breach of the disqualification can be punished by a fine, a prison sentence of up to two years (or both), and personal liability for the company''s debts.
4.Directors who accept that their conduct is unfit can give an Undertaking not to act as a director for an agreed period. This can avoid a court hearing but the consequences for breach are the same.
5.Addresses are those given at the time of company failure and may not be current.
6.Companies House maintains a register of disqualified directors which can be accessed by the public on http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk
7.Contraventions of a disqualification order should be reported to The Insolvency Service on its 24 hour ''hot line'' - 0845 6013546.
An Executive Agency within the DTI
An Executive Agency within the DTI
