A fraudster has been handed a suspended sentence after claiming £150,000 in bounce back loans for his cafe in Brighton.
Mehmet Akyuz, 36, of Conway Street, Brighton, East Sussex, submitted three loan applications for businesses that were not operating at the time.
He received a 20-month prison sentence at Hove Crown Court on Monday, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Akyuz was ordered to complete 300 hours of community service.
Mehmet Akyuz submitted three loan applications for businesses that were not operating at the time
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He was also banned from serving as a company director for five years, and will face a proceeds of crime hearing in September.
Each loan was for the maximum £50,000 and applied to his two companies.
The first was Green and Hove Limited, a food and grocery store with a café, and the second was Leather Wear Limited, a business importing bags and belts.
Both companies were incorporated in 2019 with Akyuz listed as the sole director.
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He claimed the café generated a turnover of £270,000 and the import business between £215,000 and £225,000.
However, records showed the café filed dormant accounts for 2020 and 2021, while the import firm remained dormant between 2020 and 2022.
Chief investigator at the Insolvency Service David Snasdell branded Akyuz’s actions were “unacceptable”.
He said: "Mehmet Akyuz's actions in fraudulently applying for three bounce back loans he was not entitled to were completely unacceptable.
A proceeds of crime hearing is set to occur at Hove Crown Court on September 18
Google Maps"This was taxpayers' money designed to support small businesses through the pandemic and should not have been exploited in such a cynical manner.
"The Insolvency Service remains committed to investigating these cases and bringing fraudsters such as Akyuz to justice."
A proceeds of crime hearing is set to occur at Hove Crown Court on September 18.
