Yorkshire builder sentenced for breaching bankruptcy terms
Builder given 12 months community order and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work after acting as director whilst bankrupt
Steven Bernard Kerrigan, 59, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was a director of Steven Homes Building Contractors Limited (SHBC), incorporated in August 2008.
In October 2011, Kerrigan was made bankrupt however he continued as director of SHBC, which was an offence under the terms of his bankruptcy.
In February 2017, Kerrigan dissolved his company, at which point he was required to inform all creditors. Companies House contacted Kerrigan on multiple occasions requesting he confirm the details of creditors he had contacted. Kirklees Magistrates Court heard that this did not happen, leaving any creditors unable to pursue SHBC for funds owed.
His accountants, who were owed over £2,000, did not find out until June 2017 and so Companies House referred him to the Insolvency Service for a criminal investigation. Kerrigan pleaded guilty to acting as a company director whilst bankrupt, and failing to inform creditors when he dissolved his company.
He was sentenced to a 12 month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work at Kirklees Magistrates Court on 22 June. He has also been disqualified as a company director for 2 years meaning he cannot directly or indirectly, become involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company.
Julie Barnes, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:
Steven Kerrigan was an experienced company director and was aware of the restrictions his bankruptcy came with. Despite this, he failed to follow the rules and left a firm out of pocket when he refused to tell them about the striking off application, threatening to bump them when they refused to provide further services.
We work closely with our partners to find unscrupulous directors and will always pursue prosecutions against company directors where they fail to meet the standards expected of them.
Notes to editors
Steven Kerrigan is from Pontefract, West Yorkshire and his date of birth is June 1962
Steven Homes Building Contractors (company no 06675788)
Bankruptcy restrictions are wide ranging. The effects are the same whether you are subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order or to an undertaking. Guidance on the main statutory consequences flowing from a bankruptcy restrictions order or undertaking.
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