Company director used an employee’s identity to open credit accounts and signed agreements in his name

A cowboy builder has been sentenced to 16 months in jail for identity fraud by Warwick Crown Court.

Paul Henstone, a former two-time bankrupt, has also been barred from being a company director following an investigation by the insolvency service and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Henstone was made bankrupt for the second time in December 2006 while he was director to Blackstone Construction Ltd folded. At the time Henstone was told he could no longer be a company director but did not resign from his role.

Then in March 2008 he registered a new company Roc Construction and Roofing Ltd (Roc), entering one of his employees details as a director without their knowledge.

He then used his employee’s identity to open three credit accounts and signed personal guarantees with his employee’s name. The company was wound up in September 2008 with a debt of over £15,000.

Glen Wicks, deputy chief investigation officer from BIS, said: “This man is a serial cowboy builder who for many years has created mayhem throughout the West Midlands and devastated the lives of many people. People who commit these types of offences need to know that BIS, the Insolvency Service and the courts will crack down on them severely”.

Henstone pleaded guilty to one count of acting as a director while bankrupt and three counts of fraud.

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