A BUSINESSMAN from Whitefield - who ended up owing the taxman £163,000 - has been given a 42-month disqualification.

An investigation was launched by the Insolvency Service after the collapse of S and V Ventures, which ran public houses and bar, in Manchester's Northern Quarter last November.

And as a result Peter Skelton, of Albert Drive, has will not be allowed to run a company until at least early 2023.

He was behind El Capo, a Mexican and Latin American themed venue, and Sugar Ray's, a bar, in Newton Street.

According to HM Revenue and Customs, S and V failed to submit VAT returns for three quarters in 2018, and they also had outstanding liabilities for corporation and PAYE taxes.

Tax officials complained that the company had treated them differently from other debtors.

Accounts for the end of August 2016 showed £34,273 was owed to HMRC and £75,031 to other creditors.

But by the time of liquidation, the tax debt had mushroomed to £163,874 and other debts had only increased to £79,008.

The total amount owed, say liquidators, was £242,792.