Three bosses in Swindon have been sentenced after being involved in the running of companies despite being struck off as directors.
Richard David Brown, 72, received a 20-month suspended prison sentence, while Alan Roche, 56, and Richard Edward Brown, 37, were given community orders at Swindon Crown Court.
Richard David Brown and Mr Roche ran two companies, Door Stores (Swindon), incorporated in July 2006, and Fire Secured Door Sets, incorporated in June 2009.
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Richard Edward Brown, who is the son of Richard David Brown, and Mr Roche were listed as the company directors of both businesses, selling doors and fixtures.
In June 2010, Mr Roche was made bankrupt, the Insolvency Service said, and was required to resign directorship of both companies. Richard Brown Junior continued as company director.
In March 2011, Richard Brown Senior was disqualified from acting as a company director for six years as a result of his unfit conduct at another company. This meant he could not be involved in the day-to-day running of Door Stores or Fire Secured Door Sets.
Door Stores continued to trade for a number of years until it went into liquidation in August 2015, owing creditors more than £240,000. All of Door Stores’ business was immediately transferred to the second company, Fire Secured Door Sets, with Richard Brown Junior and Mr Roche as directors.
Door Stores’ liquidation triggered an investigation that found that Richard Brown Senior and Mr Roche were both actively, yet illegitimately, involved in the day-to-day running of the company.
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According to the Insolvency Service, Mr Roche received the highest salary at Door Stores and Richard Brown Junior received a nominal wage, despite being the registered company director.
Employees said all management was looked after by Richard Brown Senior and Mr Roche, while Richard Brown Junior was a sales associate at the company.
Due to their conduct at Door Stores, Mr Roche was disqualified for three-and-a-half years in December 2016 and Richard Brown Senior was disqualified for 11 years in January 2017. Mr Roche again resigned from his directorship at Fire Secured Door Sets. Richard Brown Junior was disqualified for three-and-a-half years.
According to the Insolvency Service, Mr Roche continued in the management of Fire Secured Door Sets until August 2017, while Richard Brown Senior continued operating until August 2019 when the company was dissolved.
The defendants were invited for interview with the Insolvency Service but none attended, it said. Mr Roche provided a statement claiming he was just an employee of the companies.
The Insolvency Service launched criminal prosecutions against the three men and in May 2021, Richard Brown Senior pleaded guilty to three counts of acting in breach of a disqualification undertaking.
As well as his suspended sentence, Richard Brown Senior received a further 13-year disqualification order and Mr Roche received an 18-month community order and a further six-year disqualification order. Richard Brown Junior was given a 12-month community order.
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Mr Roche also pleaded guilty to one count of acting in breach of a disqualification undertaking and two counts of acting as a director while being an undischarged bankrupt.
Meanwhile, Richard Brown Junior pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting both defendants in being concerned in the management of Door Stores.
Glenn Wicks, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: "For several years, Richard Brown Senior and Alan Roche were actively managing two companies in flagrant and persistent breach of their disqualification breaches and bankruptcy restrictions.
"Throughout, Richard Brown Junior was listed as company director whilst only taking a small wage and leaving any company management to his father and Roche.
"All three defendants had a total and repeated disregard for the disqualification undertakings they had signed and as a result have been brought before the courts."
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