A woman has been banned from holding any directorship role for 12 years after using her business to commit fraud.
Wendy Elizabeth Megson, a director of the now-dissolved Manx Equitherapy Limited, was disqualified in the High Court by Deemster Andrew Corlett.
The ban was sought by the Financial Services Authority and Ms Megson chose not to appear before the court.
The court heard how Megson falsely presented the company as a registered charity for seven years, a deception that allowed her to avoid £2,660 in annual return fees.
She was also convicted of nine counts of dishonestly claiming over £31,000 in benefits, which she concealed using the company’s bank account.
In handing down the disqualification, Deemster Corlett said, “This is a particularly serious case.”
He described her actions as “the most disgraceful use of a charitable shield to hide what amounted to a serious fraud”.
Mr Megson is currently serving a 39-month prison sentence.