Furniture firm owner in the hot seat

A former furniture firm director from South Wales has been given an eight month prison sentence for running companies whilst disqualified following a prosecution by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Sixty-five year old Hugh Lucie-Smith was found guilty of three offences under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 and an offence under the Insolvency Act 1986 after a ten day trial at Isleworth Crown Court in London.

Despite being disqualified, he acted as the shadow director of Classic Choice Furnishings Ltd (Bridgend), Heirloom Furniture Ltd (Pontllanfraith) and Classic Choice Direct Ltd (Bridgend) between October 2003 and January 2005.

All three companies eventually failed leaving combined debts in excess of £2 million and costing many local people their jobs.

Posted Friday February 12^th 2010
By Department for Business, Innovation and Skills