Latest:
Bickerton case unlikely to go to court
13:37 18 May 2005
|
The Serious Fraud Office’s (SFO) case against seven businessmen involved in the collapse of Bickerton Construction is not expected to go to court – after a three-year delay – because of lack of evidence.
The case was put on hold when the SFO’s barrister suffered from ill health at Christmas.
Cleveland Police, which had been progressing the case, has handed it back to the SFO.
Bickerton Construction went into liquidation owing unsecured creditors £4.9m but with assets of just £630,000 to pay them. Its shareholder Infiniteland, based in Kent, was owed a further £1m.
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman confirmed that John Aviss, who bought the company in 2002, and his advisers were arrested and charged 14 months ago.
The SFO first became involved as a result of complaints over two purchases – one of these being
Rotrax [later renamed Mea Projects]. Aviss still runs a business involved in gas maintenance work.
The case was put on hold when the SFO’s barrister suffered from ill health at Christmas.
Cleveland Police, which had been progressing the case, has handed it back to the SFO.
Bickerton Construction went into liquidation owing unsecured creditors £4.9m but with assets of just £630,000 to pay them. Its shareholder Infiniteland, based in Kent, was owed a further £1m.
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman confirmed that John Aviss, who bought the company in 2002, and his advisers were arrested and charged 14 months ago.
The SFO first became involved as a result of complaints over two purchases – one of these being
Rotrax [later renamed Mea Projects]. Aviss still runs a business involved in gas maintenance work.
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Viewed Articles
ADVERTISEMENT