Watchdog appearance director disqualified

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THE DIRECTOR of an aerial company operating in Redditch has been disqualified for failing to pay tax.

Mark Smith of Mark Smith Digital Aerial Ltd must not manage or control any limited companies for three and a half years following an investigation by the Insolvency Service.

It comes just months after he appeared on Watchdog following complaints from customers. He was featured on the programme appearing at Redditch Magistrates' Court for an unrelated county court case after which he was seen throwing a bottle of what was believed to be urine towards presenter Matt Allwright.

The investigation found between May 31, 2009, and February 28, 2011, the 42-year-old failed to ensure that the company submitted any VAT returns to HM Revenue and Customs.

He also failed to ensure the business paid assessed VAT due between September 11, 2009, and March 11, 2011. As a result of these failings, Mr Smith failed to pay more than £100,000 in VAT which the company was liable for.

Robert Clarke, head of company investigations in Birmingham, said: "Directors who fail to pay their taxes are not only cheating the government, they are also gaining an unfair advantage over other businesses who are doing the right thing and paying the money they owe.

"The undertaking signed by Mark Smith sends a clear message to other company directors that if you run a business in a way that is detrimental to either its customers or its creditors you will be investigated by the Insolvency Service and as a result removed from the business environment."

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