A BUSINESSMAN has been banned from becoming a company director for eight years. Wasim Akhter, of Pilsworth Court, Bury, was disqualified from acting as a director following his conduct at Barneys Department Stores in Manchester.

The company was a wholesaler and retailer of fashionwear on Julia Street, Strangeways, but went into liquidation on August 27, 1999, with a deficiency of £806,257. Akhter had continued to trade when he knew or ought to have known his company was insolvent. Akhter also allowed Barneys to fail to submit VAT returns to Customs and Excise after April 1998 and he failed to ensure the firm maintained adequate accounting records.