Alleged driveway fraudster Simon Regan will now stand trial in January – 4 months later than originally planned.
As previously reported by Island Echo, 56-year-old Regan, of Barrows Green in Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, is alleged to have carried on the business of a company with the intent to defraud creditors/for other fraudulent purposes.
It’s said that between 2014 and 2017, Regan repeatedly installed poorly laid resin driveways for largely inflated prices resulting in the accumulation of approximately £100,000 in losses by around 40 customers across the Isle of Wight.
The charges, which were originally brought to court by the Isle of Wight Council in April 2021, relate to Angel Coatings Limited, Angel Coatings Resin Drives Limited and National Resin Drives Limited.
The 56-year-old was first listed to appear at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court in April of last year, but the case was adjourned several times before finally being heard in September and sent up to the Crown Court. In March, a provisional trial date was set for September this year – but that never materialised.
Now, it has been confirmed that the trial has been set for 23rd January 2023 and is expected to last 6 weeks. It will take place at Southampton Crown Court.
By the time the trial has finished, it will be 23 months after Regan first appeared in court in connection with the alleged fraud. It will be around 9 years since the first offences are said to have taken place.
I wonder why other companies have not been prosecuted by trading standards for similar reasons ? ( NOT resin companies BTW) ?
Possibly because of Islander Apathy Syndrome, if they don’t complain then how does Trading Standards know there is a problem.
Let’s hope Regan is man enough to attend court instead of using excuses in order to adjourn the hearing yet again.
9 years after the fact? Something very fishy going on.