TWO bosses of Swindon stores continued to run the companies while banned from doing so – and have now been convicted.

Richard David Brown and Alan Roche listed Mr Brown’s son Richard Edward Brown as the company director of Door Stores (Swindon) Ltd and Fire Secured Door Sets Ltd while the pair were actually in charge of both businesses.

The former store was incorporated in July 2006 and the latter was incorporated in June 2009. Both were originally run by 56-year-old Roche and 37-year-old Brown Junior as company directors.

But in June 2010, Alan Roche was made bankrupt and forced to resign directorship of both companies and in March 2011, 72-year-old Richard Brown Senior was disqualified from acting as a company director for six years as a result of his unfit conduct at another company.

Richard Brown Jr continued as company director of the door and fixture retailers. Door Stores continued to trade successfully but then it went into liquidation in August 2015, owing creditors more than £240,000.

All of Door Stores’ business was immediately transferred to the second company, Fire Secured Door Sets Ltd, with Richard Brown Jr and Alan Roche as directors.

Door Stores’ liquidation triggered an investigation which found that Richard Brown Sr and Alan Roche were both actively but illegitimately involved in the day to day running of the company.

Roche received the highest salary at Door Stores and Brown Jr received a nominal wage despite being the registered company director. Employees said all management was looked after by Brown Senior and Roche while Richard Brown Jr was just a sales associate at the company.

Due to their conduct at Door Stores, Alan Roche was disqualified for three-and-a-half years in December 2016 and Richard Brown Sr was disqualified for 11 years in January 2017. Alan Roche again resigned from his directorship at Fire Secured Door Sets again while Richard Brown Jr was disqualified for three-and-a-half years.

But again, despite these disqualifications, Alan Roche continued in the management of Fire Secured Door Sets until August 2017 and Richard Brown Sr continued operating until August 2019 when the company was dissolved.

The Insolvency Service invited the defendants for interview but none of them turned up. Alan Roche provided a statement claiming he was just an employee of the companies.

The Insolvency Service launched criminal prosecutions against the three men and in May 2021, Richard David Brown pleaded guilty to three counts of acting in breach of a disqualification undertaking, while Alan Roche pleaded guilty to one count of acting in breach of a disqualification undertaking and two counts of acting as a director whilst being an undischarged bankrupt.

Richard Edward Brown pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting both defendants in being concerned in the management of Door Stores.

They were sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on July 26. Richard Brown Sr received a 20-month suspended sentence and a further 13-year disqualification order and Alan Roche received an 18 month community order along with a further six-year disqualification order. Richard Brown Jr received a 12-month community order.

Insolvency Service chief investigator Glenn Wicks said: "For several years, Richard Brown Senior and Alan Roche were actively managing two companies in flagrant and persistent breach of their disqualification breaches and bankruptcy restrictions. Throughout, Richard Brown Junior was listed as company director while only taking a small wage and leaving any company management to his father and Roche.

"All three defendants had a total and repeated disregard for the disqualification undertakings they had signed and as a result have been brought before the courts."