Businessman Bill McLachlan, who left students, landlords and private tenants stranded when his letting agency closed down, has been banned from being a company director for six years.

McLachlan, director of CityComm, received the ban because of the way he ran his business, based in St Clement's, Oxford.

He allowed the firm to trade knowing it was insolvent, London's High Court was told.

McLachlan, of Green Hitchings, Great Milton, closed CityComm in April last year with debts of more than £413,100.

The court was told he misused clients' money. Deposits made by landlords and tenants were used to finance the company.

The Government's Insolv- ency Service was told of McLachlan's behaviour by the Official Receiver, who has a duty to report unfit conduct.

Deposits paid by tenants to CityComm - typically six weeks rent - should have been held in trust in a special bank account and paid back when the lease on a property was up.

But last June, the Oxford Mail revealed that a report prepared by the Official Receiver showed just £15 in the deposit account. About £33,000 in deposits was due to be paid back for the months of June, July and August alone.

After closing down Citycomm, McLachlan claimed tenants and landlords would get their money back.

But shortly afterwards, he refused to comment on the matter.

Detailed accounts lodged by CityComm with Companies House showed that the firm was in dire financial straits for most of its six years in business.

The company's auditors warned landlords and tenants last June that it was very unlikely they would get their money back.

Last September McLachlan's QMS Property Services Ltd, of Islip Road, north Oxford, was.

Clive Everitt, of accountants Shaw and Co, confirmed that McLachlan was a director of QMS and said the company had been put into liquidation by directors.

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