Owner of hotel which didn't serve food jailed after claiming thousands of pounds in Eat Out To Help Out scam
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe owner of a Manchester city centre hotel has been jailed after claiming thousands of pounds from the government's Eat Out To Help Out scheme - despite not serving food.
Shahid Naseeb Ahmed, owner of Merchants Hotel on Back Piccadilly, also claimed for two businesses, despite only owning one, in what was described as a 'systematic, deliberate and planned' fraud.
The 42-year-old was today jailed for three years and four months after pleading guilty to 25 counts of fraud. Prosecutors said Ahmed tried to claim around £138,840 from Eat Out To Help Out and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
An investigation was launched when HM Revenue and Customs became suspicious of the claims. It was found that the only 'catering' offered by Merchants Hotel was a kettle in the bedrooms. READ MORE Man who shot half-brother in the street NOT GUILTY of murder - having admitted manslaughter READ MORE: Inside the Salford pub and restaurant transformed into a medieval tavern with winter cabins But between April 2020 and August 2021 Ahmed claimed for thousands of diners.
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