²ÝÁñÉçÇø

Former Balgownie director disqualified after claiming over £1.5m in under-declared income

The Insolvency Service said David Smith submitted false VAT returns on behalf of Scottish machinery firm Balgownie Limited from 2019 to 2022

Chris Brayford
clock • 2 min read
In March 2024, Balgownie and Balgownie Rentals confirmed the business had entered administration due to owing creditors more than £3m - with 24 employees having been made redundant.
Image:

In March 2024, Balgownie and Balgownie Rentals confirmed the business had entered administration due to owing creditors more than £3m - with 24 employees having been made redundant.

A director who formerly headed a 118-year-old Scottish machinery firm has been banned for more than 10 years after falsely claiming VAT returns worth over £1.5 million. David Smith, of Inverurie in...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

New to ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358

Ìý

More on Rural crime

Farmer banned from keeping animals after 350+ livestock found in 'appalling' conditions

Farmer banned from keeping animals after 350+ livestock found in 'appalling' conditions

Staffordshire County Council said around 369 pigs, sheep, poultry and cattle were kept in poor conditions

Chris Brayford
clock 28 March 2026 • 2 min read
OPINION: "Highly organised criminals continue to profit from the misery of hardworking farming families"

OPINION: "Highly organised criminals continue to profit from the misery of hardworking farming families"

Police forces from across the country attended the National Rural Crime Network's Annual Conference this week. Can an industry-wide effort stop what can be a never ending bad dream for farmers?

Chris Brayford
clock 26 March 2026 • 1 min read
NFU Mutual works with local police to install ANPR cameras to continue fight against crime

NFU Mutual works with local police to install ANPR cameras to continue fight against crime

The rural insurer revealed the cost of rural crime to the UK was an estimated £44.1million in 2024 as organised thieves continued to strike

clock 24 March 2026 • 2 min read