George Charles Taylor of Arundel, West Sussex, was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court following an investigation by the Insolvency Service.

Robert Peck, Official Receiver for Croydon, said: “This case shows the severe consequences awaiting company directors who abuse their position or disregard the insolvency laws in place to protect the public and businesses.

“The Insolvency Service has robust powers and we do not hesitate to use them as Mr Taylor found out.”

Taylor was a director of Amalgamated Demolition Services Ltd which was wound up by the Brighton County Court on 24 April 2006.

Following an investigation by The Insolvency Service, criminal proceedings were brought against Taylor in respect of his roles in Amalgamated Demolition Services Ltd and Amalgamated Demolition and Asbestos Services Ltd.

A bankruptcy order was made against Taylor on 16 January 2007. But he acted as a director of Amalgamated Demolition and Asbestos Services Ltd despite being barred from doing so due to being an undischarged bankrupt.

Also, following the winding-up of Amalgamated Demolition Services Ltd, Taylor acted as a director of Amalgamated Demolition and Asbestos Services Ltd despite being prohibited from doing so because the name was so similar as to suggest an association with Amalgamated Demolition Services Ltd.

Taylor told Amalgamated Demolition Services Ltd’s major customer that the company had a new bank account and asked that payment for work done by Amalgamated Demolition Services Ltd be paid to the new account.

The bank account details that Taylor provided were in fact the bank account of Amalgamated Demolition and Asbestos Services Ltd and therefore Taylor caused £22,795 that was due to Amalgamated Demolition Services Ltd to be diverted to Amalgamated Demolition and Asbestos Services Ltd.

Taylor also failed to disclose to the Official Receiver that Amalgamated Demolition Services Ltd had two motor vehicles and an excavator that were subject to hire purchase agreements.

In separate action taken by the Official Receiver, Taylor undertook to the Secretary of State not to act as a company director for a period of 8 years. The undertaking took effect on 12 June 2008.