The four, who settled their undertakings out of court on 4 November, were directors of The Pyramid Printing Company, which went into voluntary liquidation on 31 August 2000.

The bans for Quinton Hembry, David Ellis, Maxwell Hembry and Digby Hembry followed a lengthy investigation by the Insolvency Agency.

Quinton Hembry also gave an undertaking with respect to Burtons Finishing Company of Ipswich, which was placed into voluntary liquidation on 25 January 2001 with debts of 153,941.

The four Pyramid directors did not dispute that that they allowed Pyramid to trade having been insolvent from inception, and allowed trade creditors of 903,416 and Crown Liabilities of 87,344 to accrue.

Digby Hembry and Ellis didnt dispute that they allowed a successor company to Pyramid, Burton Mills, to trade using a prohibited name, The Pyramid Printing and Publishing Company.

They also didnt dispute that they allowed Pyramid to make payments to a connected person for the sum of 7,400. A fifth person, Daniel Mann, was also banned for two years for his role at Burtons.

Pyramid penalties
Nameban
Quinton Taylor David Hembry, 45,5.5 years
Churchman St, Ipswich
David Charles Ellis, 58,4.5 years
Great Maplestead, Halstead, Essex
Maxwell Messina Hembry, 44, 4.5 years
Chappel St, Woodbridge, Suffolk
Digby Taylor Hembry, 69,6 years
Bealings Rd, Woodbridge, Suffolk
Daniel Jonathan Mann, 30,2 years
Hale Rd, Walthamstow, London

Story by Andy Scott