Post by strangelybrown on Jul 17, 2009 10:28:03 GMT
link: www.eastherts.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=9042
TWO directors of the illegal park and ride operation set up at Bishop's Stortford Football Club are to be pursued by the former Asset Recovery Agency for up to £1.8 million.
East Herts Council is set to receive 1/6th of any funds recovered by SOCA from Luigi Delbasso and Bradley Goodwin.
The ruling was made by a judge at St Albans Crown Court on Friday (July 10) who agreed that the company directors had continued to flout planning law by keeping the park and ride open.
It is estimated that the park and ride for Stansted Airport –on Greenbelt land – had made around £5 million during its four-year illegal operation.
At the hearing, Judge Findlay-Baker QC assessed that the benefit obtained by the defendants from the illegal activity was in the order of £1.8m.
The court heard that Mr Delbasso's current assets amounted to £760,000. Should SOCA recover this amount, East Herts would receive up to £126,000. Mr Delbasso was also fined £15,000 with £20,000 costs. Mr Goodwin was held to have no current assets. He was given a nominal £10 fine with no costs. He remains liable for a £20,000 fine and costs imposed in earlier proceedings.
However as co directors in the business, Mr Delbasso and Mr Goodwin will be liable for the full £1.8m should either of them come into funds in the future. This would raise the amount due to East Herts to £300,000.
Nominal fines of £5 were given to BSFC, the Parking Association and Timelast Ltd: the Judge said there was "little point" punishing the football club and that the businesses were now all but defunct.
After the case, Tony Jackson, Leader of the Council, said: "This case has been long, drawn out and complicated but we are pleased that the judge agreed that the company directors continued to flout planning laws after they had been convicted. We believe that this shows that the law will come down hard on those who make substantial gain from ignoring planning rules."
TWO directors of the illegal park and ride operation set up at Bishop's Stortford Football Club are to be pursued by the former Asset Recovery Agency for up to £1.8 million.
East Herts Council is set to receive 1/6th of any funds recovered by SOCA from Luigi Delbasso and Bradley Goodwin.
The ruling was made by a judge at St Albans Crown Court on Friday (July 10) who agreed that the company directors had continued to flout planning law by keeping the park and ride open.
It is estimated that the park and ride for Stansted Airport –on Greenbelt land – had made around £5 million during its four-year illegal operation.
At the hearing, Judge Findlay-Baker QC assessed that the benefit obtained by the defendants from the illegal activity was in the order of £1.8m.
The court heard that Mr Delbasso's current assets amounted to £760,000. Should SOCA recover this amount, East Herts would receive up to £126,000. Mr Delbasso was also fined £15,000 with £20,000 costs. Mr Goodwin was held to have no current assets. He was given a nominal £10 fine with no costs. He remains liable for a £20,000 fine and costs imposed in earlier proceedings.
However as co directors in the business, Mr Delbasso and Mr Goodwin will be liable for the full £1.8m should either of them come into funds in the future. This would raise the amount due to East Herts to £300,000.
Nominal fines of £5 were given to BSFC, the Parking Association and Timelast Ltd: the Judge said there was "little point" punishing the football club and that the businesses were now all but defunct.
After the case, Tony Jackson, Leader of the Council, said: "This case has been long, drawn out and complicated but we are pleased that the judge agreed that the company directors continued to flout planning laws after they had been convicted. We believe that this shows that the law will come down hard on those who make substantial gain from ignoring planning rules."