A son and his mother have been banned for ten years from being company directors after allegedly submitting false annual accounts and VAT returns to HMRC.

The pair had been directors of a firm which traded as importers of plywood but also rented out holiday villas.

Janis Hawkes, 75, of Glynneath, Wales, and Geraint Hawkes 48, of Swansea, Wales, have been disqualified for ten years.

The firm, F G Hawkes (Western), traded as RKL Plywood and was based in Swansea.

It ceased trading in October 2011 with an estimated deficiency of £26,705,170.

Geraint Hawkes is co-owner of Neath rugby club. According to Wales Online, he has held 50% ownership in Neath Rugby since 2003.

In April, the BBC reported that he was released from police bail after being arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering.

Among his former company’s reported debts were £444,054 of business rates accrued between 2005 and 2011, which had to be written off by Swansea City Council.

The Insolvency Service investigation found that the pair had signed off the company’s annual accounts knowing they contained false information and had also submitted false VAT returns to HMRC, meaning an under-declaration of at least £1,518,539.

The court also ordered the Hawkes to pay costs of £16,750 by July 29.

Sue MacLeod, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “The signing of documents knowing they contain misleading information which may be relied upon by third parties, and submitting false VAT returns is serious misconduct, which the Insolvency Service will investigate with a view to removing you from the market place.”

The ban was made last month at the High Court of Justice Chancery Division in Cardiff, but the length of the ban has only just been determined.