If I kept on harassing you, would you be sending round a cheque?

Philip Green’s outburst over £571m BHS pension deficit

“So you guys should have some brains and think let’s just leave this guy alone. OK.”

We contacted Sir Philip to see if there had been any development in the talks to solve how the £571million pensions black hole will be settled.

And we also asked about reports he has jetted off to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

His daughter Chloe, the heiress to his Topshop empire, was yesterday pictured enjoying a night out with a pal in Miami.

After refusing to comment where he would celebrate Christmas, Sir Philip then made points to our journalist which he asked not to be reported.

We complied with this request and agreed not to print most of what Sir Philip said.

Later, when we told him we were going to run the story he said: “To achieve what? Okay, whatever makes you happy.”

We are publicising his remarks about the media because they seemingly provide a new reason as to w why the pensions crisis is unresolved. Arcadia Group chairman Sir Philip bought t the 170-store BHS chain for £ £200million 16 years ago. He ai aimed to secure its future and ma make it the foundation of a sprawling retail empire. But last year, after failing, Sir Philip sold BHS for £ 1 to a group of investors led by three-times bankrupt Dominic Chappell, 50. It collapsed into administration in April, costing 11,000 jobs and leaving a £571million pension deficit. But according to reports Sir Philip’s family has still been big winners from BHS, taking more than £ 580million in dividends, rent and loan interest.

Sir Philip and wife Lady Tina were reportedly worth £3.22billion as the UK’s 29th wealthiest family in this year’s Sunday Times rich list.

That total excludes the amount researchers suggested they might have to hand to the pensions regulator.

The regulator is understood to be seeking £350million from Sir Philip, who has offered £ 250- 300million. Shopworkers’ union Usdaw branded the offer “derisory”. The collapse is being probed by a Parliamentary Committee led by Labour MP Frank Field. The Sunday People can reveal Sir Philip has become increasingly angry at the way the scandal is being centred on him.

Sources close to the tycoon say he can’t understand why people are not chasing Chappell – who he blames for BHS’s collapse. Sources say he is angry at being treated “as if on parole” despite doing nothing illegal.

But Sir Philip provoked anger over his lavish lifestyle as BHS crashed. He