Press release

Disqualified meat wholesaler sentenced

Meat wholesaler from Manchester has been sentenced after he failed to provide the Liquidator with the company’s books and papers

Roy Hayes from Manchester appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court on 22 April 2022 where he received a 6-month sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay £3,600 in costs, £115 victim surcharge and was given an additional 4-year disqualification.

The court heard that Roy Hayes (72) was the director of RH Wholesale Limited, which traded as a meat wholesaler.

RH Wholesale, however, entered into liquidation in August 2016 with outstanding debts owed to creditors worth more than £92,000.

Roy Hayes was required to deliver up the company’s books and records to the Liquidator. But the wholesaler failed to do so and blamed it on having left the paperwork at RH Wholesaler’s trading premises before the landlord disposed of them.

This was denied by the landlord and without the company records, the liquidator was unable to verify what happened to the company’s tangible assets, debts worth £120,000 and confirm the accuracy of the company’s balance sheet.

Roy Hayes accepted a 6-year director disqualification in January 2018 but due to the criminal nature of his misconduct was later charged with one count against the Insolvency Act 1986.

Julie Barnes, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:

All company directors have legal responsibilities when going through insolvency procedures, including delivering up company books and records, and it was Roy Hayes’ obligation that he dutifully carried them out.

However, Roy Hayes flagrantly disregarded his duties and his sentence should serve as a warning that we will investigate and prosecute such offenders and bring them to justice.

Notes to editors

Roy Hayes is from Manchester and his date of birth is October 1949.

Company RH Wholesale Ltd (Company Reg no 09175141).

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings. Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.

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Published 11 May 2022