Butcher put behind bars after failing to pay £15k in Business Rates

A butcher has been put behind bars for 52 days for failing to pay his business rates.

Jamie Armstrong of Runwell Gardens, Wickford, was handed the punishment at Southend Magistrates Court on 28th September 2021.

Mr Armstrong originally appeared in court on December 19 2019, in relation to unpaid business rates for Kings of Meats, High Street, Rayleigh.

This was for a period of February 1 2019, to March 31 last year.

The magistrates found culpable neglect on his part in failing to pay his business rates which totalled to £15,280.68 and imposed a 60 day suspended prison sentence.

He was also ordered to pay £2,000 in December 2019 and £13,280.68 in January 2020.

However, Mr Armstrong failed to pay.

The magistrates gave him four separate occasions to pay these arrears but he explained that due to a loss in trade during Covid he could not – despite the payments in question relating to a pre-lockdown period.

Councillor Simon Smith, portfolio holder for financial services, said: “As a council we do not relish having to prosecute anyone for non-payment of business rates, especially through this difficult time with COVID, and we are continuing to work with businesses who are struggling to pay.

“However, it is important that we take action wherever it is necessary, in the interests of all our law-abiding business owners who do meet their payments.”

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