Bankrupt businessman continued as director of five companies

Anthony Lamprell, 52, was declared bankrupt in July 2019 but continued to be listed as a director of the five companies until September 2021.

Bolton Crown Court heard how in one of the company’s cases, Rubysol Ltd, he resigned as a director in August 2019.

Prosecutor Louise Cowan said: “But he admitted to running Rubysol post-bankruptcy.”

She said that Lamprell admitted this in an email and said that he may not have been “physically present in the office” but that he was still taking decisions.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court(Image: Anthony Moss)

Ms Cowan said that Lamprell then was also listed as a director of Employ Limited, Delivery Office Limited and Freeshaw Limited during that same period.

But the court hears that that three of these companies had been “dormant” and were effectively “paper companies”.

The court heard how no losses were caused but that this still could have been posed to Rubysol Ltd because of Lamprell’s banned status.

Ms Cowan said: “He was acting for those three months when he should not have been acting and therefore a risk was posed.”

Brought before the court Lamprell, of Wearish Lane, Westhoughton, eventually pleaded guilty to five counts of acting as a company director while bankrupt.

Michael Polak, defending, said that Lamprell deserved credit for his guilty plea and pointed out that he had no previous convictions or cautions to his name.

He said that Lamprell was someone with a good history of work but given his bankruptcy he would struggle to meet financial penalties.

Mr Polak said: “He is someone with little financial understanding.”

Judge Jon Close accepted that most of the businesses had been “paper companies” but said he had been in control of Rubysol for thee months when he should not have been.

He said: “There was nothing done without your say so.”

Judge Close accepted there was no evidence of a “detrimental effect” and “no evidence of loss” because of this.

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But he noted that in one of the dormant company’s cases he had been written to and warned about remaining as director.

Judge Close said: “You clearly knew what you were doing because you had been told.”

He sentenced Lamprell to a 12-month community order and ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Close also ordered him to pay £2,500 costs and banned him from acting as a company director for three years.

Source – INDIA TV