Barred director wants £40k aid
A rogue businessman married to a senior prosecutor has claimed more than £40,000 of taxpayers’ cash to fight a criminal case.
Former bankrupt Stephen Roberts, who was convicted of running companies while disqualified, was sentenced to 275 hours’ unpaid work and handed a fur ther director ban on January 21.
Kilmarnock sheriff Iona McDonald warned Roberts, now working as a labourer, not to “be tempted” to set up any firms while banned.
Roberts, 50, of Troon, has claimed £43,605 in Legal Aid over the course of his prosecution.
In October, we revealed he had set up a new firm – Scented Systems (Scotland) – while being prosecuted for setting up companies.
Roberts was disqualified for four years in July 2010 af ter fai l ing to ensure liquidated Innova Business Solutions paid tax.
He was convicted of being in control of two technology companies while banned from acting as a director.
His wife Nicky Patrick, Scotland’s procurator fiscal for homicide and major crime, is listed at Companies House as holding 8997 shares in one of the firms, Log Six Systems, in 2013.
Her husband owned 7503, giving the couple a majority of the 30,000 shares.
There is no suggestion that Patrick knew about the mana gement of the business.
The Scottish Legal Aid Board said: “Legislation does not allow us to include a spouse’s income when someone is being tested to see if they are eligible for criminal legal aid except to see what allowances have to be made for living costs.”