Disqualification for director who stole £150K

A director who was sentenced to more than three years in prison for the “repugnant” theft of £150,000 from a vulnerable woman’s estate, has been disqualified from holding an O-licence. Dynamic Storage’s licence was also revoked following a public inquiry before TC Kevin Rooney, at which sole director Paul Willis appeared.

Willis, who was also an accountant, was jailed in 2013 after acting as enduring power of attorney for a woman – and unlawfully charging her £120 an hour for managing investments and visiting her in a care home. Willis said he regretted his actions; he was attempting to rebuild his reputation of trust and he now had an opportunity to become a director.

In his decision, TC Rooney said his conviction would be considered spent in October 2023 and that although he declared his adverse history when he contacted the office of the TC, he failed to declare there had been a loss of transport manager. The TC also said there were more negatives than positives in the director’s recent conduct: “The nature of the sole director’s conviction is such that I find there is no place in the industry for him,” he said. “The good repute and fitness of Dynamic Storage Ltd is forfeit.

“Disqualification is not automatic but this is a case where it is appropriate,” he added. “To allow Mr Willis into the proudly regulated transport industry would be an affront to all those decent law-abiding operators who try so hard to make ends meet without resorting to the need to steal vast amounts of money from a vulnerable lady.”