Audio By Carbonatix
Dominic Chappell, the former owner of BHS, has been sentenced to six years in jail for tax evasion.
A Southwark Crown Court jury found him guilty of failing to pay tax of around £584,000 on £2.2m of income he received after buying the failed chain for £1.
The court heard the 53-year-old spent the money on two yachts, a Bentley and a holiday to the Bahamas.
Former BHS owner jailed for 6 years for tax evasion https://t.co/flAOYk0siI
— BBC Business (@BBCBusiness) November 5, 2020
Chappell's lawyers claimed he became "utterly broke" after BHS's "pension problem exploded" in 2015.
Mr Chappell controversially bought the retailer from tycoon Sir Philip Green that year, but the chain collapsed soon after in 2016.
It led to the loss of 11,000 jobs and a pension deficit of £571m.
In sentencing, the judge said Chappell had engaged in a "long and consistent course of conduct designed to cheat the revenue".
Earlier this year, Chappell was ordered to pay £9.5m into BHS pension schemes after losing an appeal.
Simon York, director of the Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC, said: "This was deliberate theft from UK citizens. Chappell was a high-profile businessman who knew tax had to be paid on his income and profits but chose not to do so.
"That's money that should have been supporting our vital public services instead of funding his lavish lifestyle."
Latest Stories
-
Oil price hits highest since 2022 after report Trump to be briefed on new Iran options
39 minutes -
Adamus Resources Ltd sets record straigh on illegal mining allegations
48 minutes -
Man sentenced to death for murder of toddlers at Ugandan nursery
60 minutes -
Meta in row after workers who say they saw smart glasses users having sex lose jobs
1 hour -
Arhinful calls for patience and support for Ayew ahead of World Cup
1 hour -
Zanetor Rawlings elected 2nd Vice President of Pan-African Parliament
1 hour -
GIFEC disburses 350 laptops for One Million Coders Program in Upper West Region
1 hour -
2025 BoG GH¢15.7bn loss was a peak, future results expected to improve – Atta Issah
2 hours -
Photos: How fire destroyed everything in the Akosombo GRIDCo Substation control room
2 hours -
Embrace skills training for successful reintegration – YEA HR Director urges inmates
2 hours -
BoG’s GH₵15bn loss does not affect monetary policy – Majority
2 hours -
Minority accuses Majority of attempting to “shift public perception” ahead of BoG’s GH¢15bn publication
2 hours -
Kick Nation secures Ipswich Town trial for Ghanaian youngster Philip Frimpong
2 hours -
MTN Ghana hosts first Digital Music Conference to tackle artistes revenue challenges
2 hours -
Ghana heads to Rabat for African Open Government Conference
2 hours