BHS owner found guilty

Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell has been found guilty of failing to provide information about the firm’s pension schemes to investigators after it collapsed into administration.

The self-described entrepreneur had claimed he did “everything and more” to help The Pensions Regulator (TPR) but was convicted of three charges under the Pensions Act 2004 after a four-day trial.

At the Brighton Magistrates’ Court trial the 51-year-old, who confirmed ahead of the verdict that he would appeal any conviction, was described by his defence lawyer as a “scapegoat” after the chain folded.

But he was found to have had no reasonable excuse for not providing the information requested by TPR.