Seven explosive allegations

BHS OWNER THREATENED TO KILL CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Former BHS chief executive Darren Topp claimed the store’s owner Dominic Chappell had threatened him when challenged over a £1.5million payment. Mr Chappell allegedly said: ‘It’s my business and I will do what I want. If you kick off about it, I’ll come down there and kill you.’

OWNER WAS IN THE SAS

Mr Topp said he was so frightened by Mr Chappell’s threats that he was ready to call in the police. The former boss told MPs: ‘He said he was in the SAS and I knew he had a gun.’

OWNER WAS ON HIS YACHT WHEN BHS WENT BUST

MPs asked Mr Chappell whether he was sailing in the Bahamas when BHS collapsed. The businessman replied: ‘Yes. I was trying everything possible to raise funds.’

BUYERS HAD NEVER RUN A SHOP BEFORE

Incredibly, Mr Chappell was candid about the fact that his team didn’t know what they were doing when they bought BHS. ‘We knew nothing about retailing,’ he said. ‘We bought into their dream of a management turnaround plan.’

SIR PHILIP GREEN WAS TO BLAME FOR THE COLLAPSE...

Mr Chappell alleged that the billionaire tycoon could have saved the firm but instead pushed it into administration by calling in a loan. He said: ‘I think Philip Green thought we would fail and sold to us nevertheless. He made it very difficult for us.’

...AND HE COULD HAVE SAVED THE PENSION SCHEME

It had been claimed that the BHS pension scheme – which has a £571million black hole – could have been saved if the pensions watchdog was involved when the firm was sold. Mr Chappell said: ‘Philip stopped us seeing the regulator. He said, “If you see the regulator I will call the deal off”.’

SPORTS DIRECT TYCOON WAS READY TO SAVE BHS

Mr Chappell claimed that Mike Ashley, the under-fire owner of Sports Direct and Newcastle United FC, was ready to buy BHS. ‘I called Mike Ashley and offered to give him my shares if he would help us sort the company out,’ Mr Chappell said. ‘He was willing and able but that was railroaded by Sir Philip.’