by Nick Lillitos

A clamping firm that snared drivers in Maidstone has been wound up... for not paying thousands in taxes.

The amount owed by Approved Parking Services is A clamping firm that snared drivers in Maidstone has been wound up... for not paying thousands in taxes.believed to come to £281,934, but company owner Craig Reade claimed the amount is much less.

Approved Parking Services pounced on lorry driver John Button two minutes after he turned up to deliver to the Heart of Kent Hospice shop in Starnes Court, off Union Street, demanding £250 for release.

A petition to wind up the clampers was made by HM Revenue and Customs and was agreed by the Royal Courts of Justice on March 26.

"When a company owes such a substantial amount of money and doesn't pay up after we have asked it to do so over period of time, then we consider it insolvent," said a revenue spokesman.

He confirmed it was a six-figure sum owed by Approved Parking Services.

A spokesman for the Official Receiver's Office said: "I can confirm that a winding up order was made in the High Court against Approved Parking Services Ltd."

Its principal trading address was given as Victoria House, 14 New Road Avenue, Chatham.

Mr Reade (pictured left), from East Malling, confirmed the insolvency order, but said it was confusion over VAT arrangements that was at the heart of the case.

He runs two other clamping firms and said sites including Starnes Court, Old School Place and the Royal Mail at Sandling Road previously patrolled by Approved Parking Services would transfer to his other companies.

He said: "Around three years ago, we were told not to collect VAT on clamps, so we didn't. Around a year ago the VATman said we should have collected it and they wanted it all, backdated.

"Limited companies go bust all the time, and I know of other clamping firms this will affect."

The Kent Messenger put the £281,934 figure to Mr Reade. He said the amount owed in VAT was "much less", but declined to say what the figure was.

Lorry driver John Button, who was clamped making a delivery to the hospice shop said: "It's good they've been wound up.

"It just goes to show that before you start coming down on other people you should remember to follow the rules."