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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Dragon's Den star & gold medal-winning athlete took out £100k in fraud loans despite £75k show investment
A DRAGON'S Den winner and former Team GB gold medallist fraudulently used Covid loans to buy himself a £1.8million mansion. Rick Beardsell illegally pocketed £100,000 worth of taxpayers cash to purchase his home - despite receiving a £75,000 investment during his stint on the BBC show. 6 Beardsell received £75,000 in investments after appearing on Dragon's Den Credit: Cavendish 6 The British world sprinting champion illegally pocketed two Covid Bounce Back business loans to buy himself a £1.8m mansion Credit: Cavendish 6 Beardsell was only entitled to apply for one loan worth £50,000, but fraudulently applied for two Credit: Cavendish The 46-year-old fiddled two Covid Bounce Back loans to buy himself five-bed Holly House in the exclusive village of Prestbury, Cheshire. Dad-of-two Beardsell was only entitled to apply for one loan worth £50,000, but fraudulently applied for two and greatly exaggerated his annual turnover by up to 23 times. It came after the world champion sprinter had successfully secured investments from TV Dragons Tej Lalvani and Deborah Meaden for his successful protein shake bottle business , ShakeSphere. Chester Crown Court heard he applied for the loan to prop up his other company, Sports Creative Ltd, but none of the money went towards the sportswear business. Read more in TV Prosecutor Geoff Whealan told the court Beardsell made the fraudulent applications to HSBC in December 2020 and then to NatWest in January 2021. He said: ''The defendant stated on the HSBC form that the turnover of Sports Creative was £485,000 and on the NatWest form said it was £320,000. "But unaudited financial statements showed turnover for the year end February 2020 was £20,622. ''The turnover was clearly exaggerated to secure the maximum bounce back loan. Most read in News TV "Subsequent transactions showed the bounce back loan funds were not being used for the economic benefit or business purposes of Sports Creative at this time.'' The money arrived in Sports Creative's account in January 2021, but then almost £400,000 was transferred to Beardsell's personal Santander account in the space of six months. Then £431,160.80, including the remaining bounce back loan funds, was transferred to a firm of solicitors for the purchase of Holly House he bought with his wife Ezster. Mr Whelan added: ''In effect the bounce back loan funds had been used for this purchase. Shocking moment Dragons' Den winner Ross Mendham smashes £100k Ferrari after ploughing into bike racks in city centre "It can be inferred from the defendant's conduct that it was his intention to use the bounce back loans for this purpose at the time he made the application for it." Beardsell, who won two World Records for sprinting, faced three years in jail after he admitted two charges of fraud. In October 2024, he attended an interview under caution at the Insolvency Services offices. In a statement he said: ''The guidance pertaining to Bounce Back Loans indicated that the proceeds of such loans may be utilised for any purpose that yields a direct benefit to the company. ''At that juncture, I sought professional advice and was advised that such purposes include, but are not limited to, the coverage of overhead expenses or outstanding liabilities, as well as the investment in company assets or property. "The funds that were transferred to my personal account constituted a director's loan and other economical overheads for the business.'' Mitigating, his counsel Nichola Cafferkey explained that the loans had been repaid in full to the banks. She said: ''The loss of his good character is of some significance in respect of a man who has dedicated his life to his family, his professional entities and also his sporting endeavours. "These offences were out of character and were committed four years ago. "He has taken responsibility and repaid the money back. He knows that it's his own fault. "He has brought shame on his family and brought shame on himself. ''His wife is also his business partner and concerns that they have had about the ability to provide financially for their young children have been significant." The court also heard that Beardsell had suffered a series of medical issues both before and after securing the loans. Ms Cafferkey continued: "A year prior to the submission of the first loan application, the defendant was diagnosed with an aggressive form of testicular cancer and required surgery and extensive chemotherapy. "The chemotherapy was successful but led to some significant side effects. ''One of those being vertigo, of which he had a severe episode which required hospitalisation and thereafter there are ongoing long-term issues as a result of that. 6 Beardsell was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years Credit: Cavendish 6 Hundreds of thousands of pounds were transferred to a firm of solicitors for the purchase of Holly House Credit: Cavendish "The investigations brought on by the defendant's own actions has had an impact on his family which has led to a situation where he has been experiencing significant stress over the past few years. "On top of that there are ongoing knee pains associated with his athletic success at national and international level. "He has been running a business for many years without issue and it is plain he is extremely remorseful and regretful for his actions. "The impact on his wife's physical health in terms of stress and strain has been significant. There has been significant weight loss and insomnia. "This will be the only time that Richard Beardsell appears before the court." Beardsell was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £11,142.70. Judge Simon Berkson told Beardsell: "You fraudulently lied and lied again in your applications for these loans. "They were supposed to be for use in keeping your business running but the money was used for your own personal needs and the needs of your family. "This is not a victimless crime. The government was trying to help struggling businesses at the time of national crisis. "People were in lock down, people were dying and people were very ill at the time when people required their public services. "You used fraudulently obtained public funds for your own use, depriving honest people of the scheme's funds when the country was in crisis. "You are a generally successful man both in business and in sports, particularly your involvement with athletics. "You continue to run your business and it was on the TV programme Dragons' Den. "You are a married person with two children and they are young children. You have survived an aggressive form of cancer. "I have concluded that an immediate custodial sentence would have a significant harmful impact on your wife and children.'' 6 He was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £11,142.70 Credit: Cavendish
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Dragon's Den star & gold medal-winning athlete took out £100k in fraud loans despite £75k show investment
None of the money he applied for went towards his business STAR JAILED Dragon's Den star & gold medal-winning athlete took out £100k in fraud loans despite £75k show investment Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A DRAGON'S Den winner and former Team GB gold medallist fraudulently used Covid loans to buy himself a £1.8million mansion. Rick Beardsell illegally pocketed £100,000 worth of taxpayers cash to purchase his home - despite receiving a £75,000 investment during his stint on the BBC show. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Beardsell received £75,000 in investments after appearing on Dragon's Den Credit: Cavendish 6 The British world sprinting champion illegally pocketed two Covid Bounce Back business loans to buy himself a £1.8m mansion Credit: Cavendish 6 Beardsell was only entitled to apply for one loan worth £50,000, but fraudulently applied for two Credit: Cavendish The 46-year-old fiddled two Covid Bounce Back loans to buy himself five-bed Holly House in the exclusive village of Prestbury, Cheshire. Dad-of-two Beardsell was only entitled to apply for one loan worth £50,000, but fraudulently applied for two and greatly exaggerated his annual turnover by up to 23 times. It came after the world champion sprinter had successfully secured investments from TV Dragons Tej Lalvani and Deborah Meaden for his successful protein shake bottle business, ShakeSphere. Chester Crown Court heard he applied for the loan to prop up his other company, Sports Creative Ltd, but none of the money went towards the sportswear business. Prosecutor Geoff Whealan told the court Beardsell made the fraudulent applications to HSBC in December 2020 and then to NatWest in January 2021. He said: ''The defendant stated on the HSBC form that the turnover of Sports Creative was £485,000 and on the NatWest form said it was £320,000. "But unaudited financial statements showed turnover for the year end February 2020 was £20,622. ''The turnover was clearly exaggerated to secure the maximum bounce back loan. "Subsequent transactions showed the bounce back loan funds were not being used for the economic benefit or business purposes of Sports Creative at this time.'' The money arrived in Sports Creative's account in January 2021, but then almost £400,000 was transferred to Beardsell's personal Santander account in the space of six months. Then £431,160.80, including the remaining bounce back loan funds, was transferred to a firm of solicitors for the purchase of Holly House he bought with his wife Ezster. Mr Whelan added: ''In effect the bounce back loan funds had been used for this purchase. Shocking moment Dragons' Den winner Ross Mendham smashes £100k Ferrari after ploughing into bike racks in city centre "It can be inferred from the defendant's conduct that it was his intention to use the bounce back loans for this purpose at the time he made the application for it." Beardsell, who won two World Records for sprinting, faced three years in jail after he admitted two charges of fraud. In October 2024, he attended an interview under caution at the Insolvency Services offices. In a statement he said: ''The guidance pertaining to Bounce Back Loans indicated that the proceeds of such loans may be utilised for any purpose that yields a direct benefit to the company. ''At that juncture, I sought professional advice and was advised that such purposes include, but are not limited to, the coverage of overhead expenses or outstanding liabilities, as well as the investment in company assets or property. "The funds that were transferred to my personal account constituted a director's loan and other economical overheads for the business.'' Mitigating, his counsel Nichola Cafferkey explained that the loans had been repaid in full to the banks. She said: ''The loss of his good character is of some significance in respect of a man who has dedicated his life to his family, his professional entities and also his sporting endeavours. "These offences were out of character and were committed four years ago. "He has taken responsibility and repaid the money back. He knows that it's his own fault. "He has brought shame on his family and brought shame on himself. ''His wife is also his business partner and concerns that they have had about the ability to provide financially for their young children have been significant." The court also heard that Beardsell had suffered a series of medical issues both before and after securing the loans. Ms Cafferkey continued: "A year prior to the submission of the first loan application, the defendant was diagnosed with an aggressive form of testicular cancer and required surgery and extensive chemotherapy. "The chemotherapy was successful but led to some significant side effects. ''One of those being vertigo, of which he had a severe episode which required hospitalisation and thereafter there are ongoing long-term issues as a result of that. 6 Beardsell was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years Credit: Cavendish 6 Hundreds of thousands of pounds were transferred to a firm of solicitors for the purchase of Holly House Credit: Cavendish "The investigations brought on by the defendant's own actions has had an impact on his family which has led to a situation where he has been experiencing significant stress over the past few years. "On top of that there are ongoing knee pains associated with his athletic success at national and international level. "He has been running a business for many years without issue and it is plain he is extremely remorseful and regretful for his actions. "The impact on his wife's physical health in terms of stress and strain has been significant. There has been significant weight loss and insomnia. "This will be the only time that Richard Beardsell appears before the court." Beardsell was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £11,142.70. Judge Simon Berkson told Beardsell: "You fraudulently lied and lied again in your applications for these loans. "They were supposed to be for use in keeping your business running but the money was used for your own personal needs and the needs of your family. "This is not a victimless crime. The government was trying to help struggling businesses at the time of national crisis. "People were in lock down, people were dying and people were very ill at the time when people required their public services. "You used fraudulently obtained public funds for your own use, depriving honest people of the scheme's funds when the country was in crisis. "You are a generally successful man both in business and in sports, particularly your involvement with athletics. "You continue to run your business and it was on the TV programme Dragons' Den. "You are a married person with two children and they are young children. You have survived an aggressive form of cancer. "I have concluded that an immediate custodial sentence would have a significant harmful impact on your wife and children.''
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Drink driver, 32, told cops ‘I am f****d' after crashing into two parked cars and trying to flee with mum and stepdad
A DRINK-DRIVER said 'I am f***ed' to police officers after smashing into two parked cars and trying to flee the scene with her mum and stepdad. Chanelle Powell, 32, crashed her Vauxhall Astra on Station Road in Little Sutton, Cheshire, on June 23 while more than double the drink-drive limit. 5 Chanelle Powell, 32, was caught drink-driving Credit: Cavendish 5 She was found double the legal limit last month Credit: Cavendish 5 Powell crashed her vehicle on Station Road in Little Sutton, Cheshire Credit: Cavendish She wrote off one car and damaged another before being picked up in a van by her parents and driven away. A judge suggested Powell did a runner to avoid being brethalysed. When cops caught up with her moments later, she reportedly broke down and repeatedly said: 'I am f***ed.' Cheshire Police was tipped off by witnesses who saw Powell flee the crash scene in a Vauxhall van. Read more News The smashed-up Astra had one wheel hanging off, and another car, a BMW, was also damaged in the collision. Prosecutor Michelle Dodd told the court that Powell crashed into a BMW, which ended up nearly sideways on a wall. She said the main victim's car was a total write-off with over £6,000 of damage. The BMW ended up needing £500 worth of repairs and Powell's Astra was wrecked. Most read in The Sun Officers stopped the vehicle nearby and found Powell in the passenger seat looking visibly shaken. She gave a positive roadside breath test and was arrested on the spot. Paul Ince BANNED from driving as he pleads guilty to drink-drive offence The legal alcohol limit is 35mg, Powell's test reading came up as 79mg, more than double. She told officers she had been drinking beer after work because she was 'stressed' following a hospital appointment. Powell later claimed her mum and stepdad were just passing by and had picked her up 'to comfort her'. But a judge ruled she had knowingly fled to avoid being tested for driving under the influence. He told her: 'I am quite certain you fled the scene because you knew you would fail a breath test.' Cops were met by several members of the public who said the driver 'was clearly intoxicated' before fleeing. She confessed to drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident at Chester Magistrates' Court. She was slapped with a 16-month driving ban and a 12-month community order. The 32-year-old was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. The probation officer said Powell had been working from home that day and drank three or four beers after finishing work. She was reportedly using alcohol as 'a coping mechanism'. Powell admitted it had been a 'lapse in judgment' and accepted that what she did was wrong. The judge told her she posed a danger to other road users that night and that her ban will remain in place until she passes an extended retest. 5 Powell now has a 16-month driving ban Credit: Cavendish 5 She admitted the incident was a 'lapse in judgment' Credit: Cavendish
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Drink driver, 32, told cops ‘I am f****d' after crashing into two parked cars and trying to flee with mum and stepdad
DRINK DRIVE SHAME Drink driver, 32, told cops 'I am f****d' after crashing into two parked cars and trying to flee with mum and stepdad Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A DRINK-DRIVER said 'I am f***ed' to police officers after smashing into two parked cars and trying to flee the scene with her mum and stepdad. Chanelle Powell, 32, crashed her Vauxhall Astra on Station Road in Little Sutton, Cheshire, on June 23 while more than double the drink-drive limit. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Chanelle Powell, 32, was caught drink-driving Credit: Cavendish 5 She was found double the legal limit last month Credit: Cavendish 5 Powell crashed her vehicle on Station Road in Little Sutton, Cheshire Credit: Cavendish She wrote off one car and damaged another before being picked up in a van by her parents and driven away. A judge suggested Powell did a runner to avoid being brethalysed. When cops caught up with her moments later, she reportedly broke down and repeatedly said: 'I am f***ed.' Cheshire Police was tipped off by witnesses who saw Powell flee the crash scene in a Vauxhall van. The smashed-up Astra had one wheel hanging off, and another car, a BMW, was also damaged in the collision. Prosecutor Michelle Dodd told the court that Powell crashed into a BMW, which ended up nearly sideways on a wall. She said the main victim's car was a total write-off with over £6,000 of damage. The BMW ended up needing £500 worth of repairs and Powell's Astra was wrecked. Officers stopped the vehicle nearby and found Powell in the passenger seat looking visibly shaken. She gave a positive roadside breath test and was arrested on the spot. Paul Ince BANNED from driving as he pleads guilty to drink-drive offence The legal alcohol limit is 35mg, Powell's test reading came up as 79mg, more than double. She told officers she had been drinking beer after work because she was 'stressed' following a hospital appointment. Powell later claimed her mum and stepdad were just passing by and had picked her up 'to comfort her'. But a judge ruled she had knowingly fled to avoid being tested for driving under the influence. He told her: 'I am quite certain you fled the scene because you knew you would fail a breath test.' Cops were met by several members of the public who said the driver 'was clearly intoxicated' before fleeing. She confessed to drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident at Chester Magistrates' Court. She was slapped with a 16-month driving ban and a 12-month community order. The 32-year-old was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. The probation officer said Powell had been working from home that day and drank three or four beers after finishing work. She was reportedly using alcohol as 'a coping mechanism'. Powell admitted it had been a 'lapse in judgment' and accepted that what she did was wrong. The judge told her she posed a danger to other road users that night and that her ban will remain in place until she passes an extended retest. 5 Powell now has a 16-month driving ban Credit: Cavendish
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Leslie Ash, 65, reveals the results of her £4,500 non-surgical facelift saying ‘I look ten years younger'
Leslie has been holding onto an age-defying secret FRESH-FACED Leslie Ash, 65, reveals the results of her £4,500 non-surgical facelift saying 'I look ten years younger' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MEN Behaving Badly actress Leslie Ash has undergone a non-surgical facelift. The star, 65, revealed the results of the £4,500 treatment, admitting: 'My friends think I've had a facelift.' Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Leslie Ash had revealed the results of her non-surgical facelift Credit: 5 The Men Behaving Badly star is thrilled with how the £4,500 cosmetic procedure went Credit: LESAUVAGE_MEDIA 5 Leslie seen here before and after the treatment Credit: But Leslie hasn't gone under the knife and instead has been secretly having non-surgical facelift treatments. Over the past eight months, Leslie has had six procedures, known as 'NeoGen Plasma Treatment' with Dr Martin Kinsella. She said: "People keep saying to me, 'What have you done? You look amazing!' "One friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, is convinced I've had surgery because the change was so dramatic, but I can assure you I haven't. Read more on Leslie Ash no go Men Behaving Badly's Leslie Ash says show 'couldn't' be made amid cancel culture "It was really important for me to have a non-invasive treatment that achieves really natural looking results." The actress added: "I'd seen that Shirley Ballas and Linda Lusardi had great results with NeoGen and I know Linda, so it was easy for me to check it out and know that it was a respected treatment with good outcomes." Leslie decided to book in for a consultation after struggling with her visible signs of ageing for a while, which were significantly impacting her self-esteem. 'The difference is really noticeable,' Leslie said after her treatments. 'What's really blown my mind is my jawline, it's so obvious that it has lifted. "And my eyes look so much better, they were hooded before and now you can see my eyes are a completely different shape.' Leslie Ash says horror hospital superbug destroyed her TV career and left her walking with a stick on Good Morning Britain interview She continued: 'Then you come to the texture of my skin, and the reduction of my pores. "My skin feels tighter and more plump, and the overall texture and tone is so much better. "I can definitely say I look like I'm in my mid 50s, so yeah, I'm happy with that, ten years younger.' NeoGen Plasma Treatment works by using ultra-high radio frequency to convert nitrogen gas into nitrogen plasma. A handpiece directs this thermal plasma into the layers of the skin to help control its pre-existing plasma, boosting the skin's natural regenerative mechanism. It's essentially tricking the skin into boosting its levels of collagen and elastin - the two main building blocks of healthy, supple skin. Leslie, who has also been taking daily Ameri-Vita Liver Support drinks, has no plan to call it quits now she's found a treatment that works wonders for her. 'I'm absolutely going to keep having these treatments," she said. "I can't imagine stopping now.' 5 Leslie says that she 'looks ten years younger' Credit: LESAUVAGE_MEDIA
