Gary Stephen Emerick, director of general construction and civil engineering company, Hire & Mechanical Services Limited, based in Canvey Island, Essex, has been disqualified for four years for failing to pay tax.

The disqualification follows an investigation by The Insolvency Service.

Mr Emerick, 55, of Canvey Island, Essex has given an undertaking to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, that he will not act as a director of a limited company from 25 March 2013 until March 2017.

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Hire & Mechanical Services Limited, whose principal activity was construction equipment and tool hire and groundworking, went into liquidation on 27 June 2011 owing at least £527,175 to creditors. This debt included £360,872 to owed to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in unpaid tax, almost half of which, or £156,080, was made up of undeclared VAT.

The Insolvency Service investigation showed that the company’s unpaid taxes dated all the way back to when it started trading in May 2009. During its two years of trading, the company paid just £47,246 in tax, which was a fraction of what it owed.

(CD)