A millionaire property mogul has revealed that he no longer takes on tenants who share his surname after a number of cases of mistaken identity.

Speaking to the Kent Messenger following a recent court judgement Fergus Wilson announced the move as a response to being handed bills that he claims belong to other people.

The 66-year-old from Peens Lane, Boughton Monchelsea, said on more than one occasion he has been requested to pay money after tenants called Wilson failed to keep up with their council tax.

The comments come in the wake of a Maidstone Magistrates' Court hearing where his wife, Judith, was ordered to pay more than £3,000 to the borough council in overdue council tax.

"I no longer take tenants who are called Wilson — which is the third most common surname in the UK" — Fergus Wilson

The 64-year-old, who is usually represented by her husband, was charged with 10 counts of not paying tax for homes which are part of the couple’s portfolio but failed to turn up as Mr Wilson was filming for an upcoming episode of Panorama.

The former professional boxer added: "I plan to appeal the orders on the basis that the forms I was sent were impossible to understand and that Maidstone Borough Council said the properties were unoccupied for more than one month which is not the case.

"I have had a number of issues with the authority regarding my properties and now I no longer take tenants who are called Wilson, which is the third most common surname in the UK, as there are many instances of me and my wife being asked to pay amounts which those tenants owe.

"I have invested £100million in property in Ashford but not Maidstone simply because I have faced so many problems in the area.

"I wanted to be in court to dispute the charges but unfortunately the reality is I'm a busy man and had important filming to do. I can't be in two places at once."

He added that he is keen for legislation to be passed that requires landlords to collect council tax from tenants and thinks this will prevent future issues.