Married couple from Telford banned for 9 years each after diverting over £124,000 away from creditors
Jane Thornton (54) and Norman Thornton (65), from Telford, were both directors of the construction company Norjan (Properties) Limited, which went into liquidation in July 2020 with liabilities over £411,000.
The Liquidator discovered that Norjan had informed its major client to direct payments into a new bank account from January 2020. This account belonged to a third party and over £124,000 was paid into it between February 2020 and April 2020.
The subsequent Insolvency Service investigation also established that the company had been trading while insolvent from at least 31 July 2017, and had an outstanding County Court Judgement of nearly £34,500.
Both Jane Thornton and Norman Thornton accepted that by diverting funds to the new account, they left the business unable to repay its creditors.
The Secretary of State accepted signed undertakings from both directors on 19 August 2021. Their disqualifications are effective from 9 September 2021 and last for 9 years each.
The pair cannot, directly or indirectly, be involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company without the permission of the court.
Nina Cassar, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:
Notes to Editors
Mrs Jane Thornton is from Telford and her date of birth is 12 March 1967.
Mr Norman Thornton is from Telford, and his date of birth is 31 December 1955.
Norjan (Properties) Limited (Company Registration number 06310690).
Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.
Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of restrictions.