BHS owner begs for trial to be halted – because he was at sea

THE former owner of BHS asked for his trial to be delayed as he had not seen a court summons because he was on a boat without internet access.

Dominic Chappell ( pictured) was summonsed to appear in court accused of failing to hand over information to the regulator investigating the sale of the collapsed retailer.

Chappell headed Retail Acquisitions, which bought BHS for £1 from billionaire Sir Philip Green in 2015. The high street chain went into administration last year, affecting 11,000 jobs and 19,000 pensioners, leaving a £571m pension deficit.

Chappell, 50, from Dorset, faces three charges of neglecting or refusing to provide information and documents, without a reasonable excuse.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court yesterday he pleaded not guilty, saying he had been away for most of August. He said: ‘I did not have internet access when I was away. I was offshore, on a boat.’

The case has been adjourned to January 8.