court case

The co-founder of Wisbech-based Heathcliff Haulage has received a nine-month suspended jail sentence for breaching his directoral disqualification by continuing to act as a director and launching a second haulage company.

Norwich Crown Court heard that Heath Noel-Storr was disqualified as a director on 5 January 2012 after the company, which was a Palletways member, ran up debts of £641,201, mainly owed to HMRC. As a result, the firm appointed administrators to reduce debt and keep the company operating.

Despite agreeing to be disqualified as a director until 4 July 2015, Noel-Storr continued to act as a shadow director at Heathcliff Haulage, which had an O-licence for 128 trucks and 80 trailers.

Noel-Storr covered up his involvement in the company by promoting an employee to the role of director.

Trevor Archer, prosecuting for the Insolvency Service, told the court that Noel-Storr further breached the disqualification by forming PHD Logistics in December 2013. The company, which listed Noel-Storr as a shareholder, was dissolved in June 2015.

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