Home UK It’s not fair, ex-BHS owner complains after court hearing

It’s not fair, ex-BHS owner complains after court hearing

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Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell has complained that he "cannot take this pressure anymore" as he appeared in court to face action to ban him as a company director.

The former racing driver, who bought the retailer from Sir Philip Green for £1 in 2015, before it collapsed a year later with the loss of 11,000 jobs, added later: "I don't think I've had a fair deal."

Mr Chappell was appearing before a judge at an Insolvency and Companies Court hearing in London where he is facing action under rules governing the disqualification of company directors.

He was representing himself at the hearing, telling Judge Daniel Schaffer that he did not have the money to pay for a lawyer.

Mr Chappell said he was happy to be banned but disputed some of the evidence presented against him.

"I just cannot fight any more," he said. "I cannot take this pressure anymore."

Judge Schaffer said his view on the accuracy of the evidence could affect the length of a ban, which would be decided on at a further hearing.

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Outside court, Mr Chappell said: "I have got five government departments either wasting money or costing me money at the moment.

"I don't think I've had a fair deal. Why is there only me here?

"I don't mind being barred as a company director but I do dispute some of the evidence they are presenting."

The demise of BHS sparked a series of inquiries including a report by MPs which branded Sir Philip "the unacceptable face of capitalism".

Sir Philip last year agreed to pay up to £363m into BHS's pension fund to end the threat of action against him by the pensions watchdog, and has faced no further action from the Insolvency Service.

Earlier this year, Mr Chappell, 51, was ordered to pay £87,000 for failing to provide pensions information to an investigation by The Pensions Regulator into BHS's collapse.

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The judge in that case heard that his outgoings included £3,800 a month rent on his Dorset home where he lives with his wife and children, £32,000 a year on a new Range Rover and £2,500 a month on private school fees.

In September, another judge said Mr Chappell had given "entirely unbelievable" evidence as she dismissed his appeal against the conviction.

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