Couple are disqualified from being directors

Insolvency Service probe

A MARRIED couple who ran a printing company in Birstall have been disqualified from being company directors for a total of 14 years.

Sticky Print was incorporated in April 2014, with Stephen Clarke (49), from Birstall, appointed as the only director.

The company provided digital, graphic and signage print services in the Leicestershire area and later in June 2016, Amanda Clarke (45) was appointed as a director, following her husband’s resignation.

However, just over three years later, Sticky Print entered into liquidation in August 2017, owing £85,795 to creditors.

This triggered an investigation by the Insolvency Service and investigators found that Mr Clarke, who had been involved in the printing industry for a number of years, had been disqualified from acting as a director for three and a half years in June 2016.

This took place while he was running Sticky Print and was connected to his conduct when he was a director of a previous company, Think Plan B Limited, where Mr Clarke was banned for failing to ensure the company complied with its tax obligations.

Investigators established that Mr Clarke continued to run Sticky Print in breach of his ban despite his formal resignation as a director, appointing his wife as director after his disqualification came into effect.

On October 30, 2018, the Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from Mr Clarke who admitted continuing to act as a director of Sticky Print Limited in contravention of the terms of the disqualification undertaking he agreed to on May 22, 2016. His ban is effective from November 20, 2018, and lasts for eight years.

Also on October 30, 2018, the Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from Amanda Clarke after she admitted to allowing Mr Clarke to continue to act as a director of Sticky Print Limited in contravention of the terms of his previous disqualification. Amanda Clarke’s ban is effective from November 20, 2018, and lasts for six years.

Jane Knight, deputy head of investigations, at the Insolvency Service, said: “Stephen Clarke knowingly breached the terms of his disqualification, thereby putting the company’s creditors at risk.

“His disqualification means that he will not be able to run a limited company for eight years and will help to prevent future losses to suppliers.

“Amanda Clarke’s disqualification means that she will not be able to provide Stephen Clarke with the opportunity to run a limited company in the future.