Former owners of a fish and chip shop have been named and shamed as tax cheats by HM Revenue and Customs.

The company behind Bells Fish Bar in Paddock Wood totted up £24,325.70 in penalties for failing to pay £36,580 of tax between June 2010 and January 2012.

Under the company name Shendul Fish Bar Ltd, workers never filed any accounts after the firm was formed in February 2010.

Companies House lists the business as active but with a proposal to be stuck off.

Its founding director is Ozbir Hassan, who confirmed the company ceased trading in January.

Mr Hassan says he was left in more than £15,000 of debt after the business failed and there was no way he could have paid VAT based on his low earnings.

“It is unfair. I’ve been told the company has got to pay so much but where could we get the money to pay it?..." - company owner Ozbir Hassan

He added: “It is unfair. I’ve been told the company has got to pay so much but where could we get the money to pay it?

“We couldn’t get the money from the takings.

“I couldn’t pay the penalty. I’m struggling to pay my own debts.”

At present, the firm operating from Bells Fish Bar is Angel Fish Bar Ltd, which was incorporated in January this year.

HMRC has published the names of deliberate tax defaulters, those who file inaccurate returns or failed to pay VAT, on its website since April 2010.

Names and penalty amounts are only made public once any appeals have been exhausted.

HMRC’s director general for enforcement and compliance Jennie Granger said: “While the majority of people pay the tax that is due, there is a small minority who try to evade their responsibilities.

“Publishing taxpayers’ names is not something we do lightly.

“This lets the community know we are tackling this and encourages others to get back on track.”