Gary Kelvin Link, a 46-year-old resident of Telford, Shropshire, has received a suspended sentence after being found guilty of breaching a directorship ban by managing a window-fitting company while disqualified from running a business.
Link, who had been subject to an eight-year director disqualification, breached the terms of his ban by actively managing CGL Contracting Ltd between August 2014 and December 2015. Despite not being a registered director of the company, Link was found to have played a significant role in the day-to-day operations of the business, which operated from industrial units on the Horsehay Industrial Estate in Telford.
The company specialized in the installation of doors and windows across the country but eventually folded in December 2015, accumulating debts of over £297,000. The closure of CGL Contracting Ltd prompted an investigation by the Insolvency Service.
Julie Barnes, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, emphasized the seriousness of Link’s actions, noting that he knowingly put creditors at risk by breaching the restrictions of his disqualification. Link’s sentence, handed down at Shrewsbury Crown Court on December 13, 2023, reflects the gravity of the offence and underscores the commitment of the Insolvency Service to maintain the integrity of the UK’s business environment.
Link’s history of misconduct in previous businesses, including Glass Link Manufacturing Ltd and Glass Link Architectural Ltd, had led to his initial disqualification in 2008. Despite this ban, Link failed to seek court permission before involving himself in the management of CGL Contracting Ltd.
As part of the sentencing, Link was given a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with a £500 fine and ordered to pay £3,000 in costs.
Individuals who are disqualified from acting as directors are prohibited from engaging in any directorial activities or involvement in the formation, promotion, or management of a company without prior court approval. Failure to adhere to these restrictions constitutes a criminal offence.
Gary Kelvin Link pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of his disqualification and was subsequently charged and sentenced in December following an investigation by the Insolvency Service.
