THIEVING BROTHERS IMPRISONED FOLLOWING DTI PROSECUTION

29 Apr 2005 12:45 PM

Two brothers who plundered their company's stock before it went into liquidation have been sent to prison for 12 months each following a DTI prosecution.

Darren Robin Young, 35, and Robin Gary Young, 41, of Hungerford, Berkshire took over as directors of Evencray Ltd, a company selling white goods to large retail stores and the public, when their father retired from the business.

The company ran into financial difficulties and ceased trading in May 2002. The company's debts at the time of liquidation were £199,237.

During the course of the winding-up procedure it was discovered that the brothers had stolen money from the company while failing to pay their debts, and had carried on making sales when the company should have ceased trading.

Both brothers pleaded guilty to two separate offences of theft at Peterborough Magistrate's Court, admitting stealing £29,500 between them. Both said that they had been stealing independently of each other.

Since the liquidation of the company Darren Young has repaid the money stolen to the liquidator.

The DTI has instigated confiscation proceedings against Gary Young to recover the money he has stolen.

Notes to editors

1. Evencray Ltd was incorporated on 29th December 1980 and went into creditors voluntary liquidation on 15 May 2003.

2. The investigation into the actions of the Young Brothers commenced following a report by the company liquidator to the Insolvency Service.

They were convicted on 19th May 2004 in the Peterborough Magistrates Court on two offences of Theft contrary to S1 Theft Act 1968.

3. The brothers were sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on 22nd April 2005.

4. The Insolvency Service is an executive agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. Its official receivers have responsibility for the administration and investigation of bankruptcies and companies that are put into liquidation by Order of the Court.

5. Where Official Receivers discover conduct by bankrupts that might constitute a criminal offence, the matters are reported to the Department of Trade and Industry Legal Services (Prosecution) branch with a view to the investigation and prosecution of any offences, where appropriate.

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