Questions over checks carried out on funding firm

he said: “I am not, and have never been, a non-executive director of that company.

“Any information or representation that this is the case is simply not correct.”

Despite Haston’s claims to have sold an offshore asset management firm for “a reported $650million” – about £500million – and to have 12 offices around the world, Leonne International has never f iled accounts with business register Companies House and was only incorporated in September 2018.

Haston is listed as its only active director.

His entry provides conf l icting dates of birth.

Meanwhi le, his personal website describes him as a “Scottish wonder kid”.

We also contacted every firm Leonne claimed to have “acquired”. Representatives said they had never heard of the firm.

James Ritchie, chief executive officer of Tekmar Group PLC, said: “We have no contract or working relationship with them and, until now, I’d never heard of them.”

Stephen Stamp, of Midatech Pharma, added: “We have no knowledge of Leonne or Mr Haston. For the record, he is using our old logo.”

Verona Pharma, Premier Milton and

Velocity Composites PLC also said they had no knowledge of Leonne International.

A spokeswoman for Creo Medical said the company had “absolutely no connection with Creo at all”. spokesman also insisted the firm would file accounts with Companies House when they were due in June.

Strang said: “Under the legal agreement between Shetland Space Centre and Leonne International, we are receiving the £ 2mi l lion cash investment in instalments over 10 months.

“These payments have been honoured, as we would expect.

“Mike Haston understands and has embraced the concept and value of the space sector to Scotland and the UK.

“We are delighted to have

Leonne on board as a proactive and enthusiastic shareholder.”

A woman operating the front desk at an office in London’s

Upper Berkeley Street – Leonne International’s registered office in London – said a man named Michael Haston was regularly seen v i s i t i ng t he building.

But she added that Haston was not at the building when we called and did not know whether the company had recently moved to the address. An employee at off ice space in the English capital’s Lower Thames Street said Haston and his company were not registered there.

A Scottish Enterprise spokesman said: “We’ve account managed the Shetland Space Centre since 2019 and awarded the company £16,000 of innovation funding in October 2019.

“Any questions relating to recent investors are a matter for the company.”

Highlands and Islands Enterpr ise conf i rmed it had g iven the company £ 15,0 0 0 but decl ined to comment further.