Director Sentenced for Deceiving Court with Coma Claim While Illegally Operating Football Magazine Business During Ban

Peter Etherington has been sentenced to 18 and a half months in prison for operating a football magazine business while serving a disqualification as a company director. The 68-year-old from Belle Vue, Ilkley, Yorkshire, was behind PP Global Media Limited, which produced the magazine Professional Player, a publication aimed exclusively at professional footballers and their families.

Etherington was found to have been acting as a director of the company for over three years, from April 2019 to October 2022, despite being banned on three separate occasions due to previous misconduct. His disqualifications occurred in 2017, 2020, and 2022. During this time, he managed the company’s finances, staffing, and contracts while others were listed as directors in name only. Notably, he personally received over £100,000 from the company accounts, surpassing any named director’s earnings.

Failed Court Appearance and Subsequent Investigation

In January of this year, Etherington was scheduled to appear at Bradford Magistrates’ Court but failed to do so, citing an alleged induced coma through an email purportedly from a family member. However, officials from the Insolvency Service investigated and found no evidence of him being hospitalised at the time, with reports indicating that he had been seen shopping at Tesco.

Following his guilty plea in March, Etherington was due for sentencing in May but missed a probation appointment, leading the court to learn that he did not possess a mobile phone. He was eventually sentenced on 5 August at Bradford Crown Court and received an additional 10-year disqualification as a company director, extending his ban until August 2036.

Persistent Offender and Misconduct

David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, emphasised that disqualifications are in place to safeguard the public from individuals who have demonstrated a lack of trustworthiness in business. He labelled Etherington a persistent offender who disregarded his bans while continuing to manipulate company operations from behind the scenes. Etherington’s actions included running the same business through various phoenix companies, engaging in serious misconduct throughout.

Initially disqualified for 11 years in February 2017 for misconduct at Etherington Media Ltd, which included providing false documentation regarding intellectual property rights, Etherington faced further disqualifications due to similar infractions at 07 Media Limited. His second ban in September 2020 was prompted by his disregard for a previous disqualification while his company owed significant tax liabilities. The June 2022 disqualification resulted in a 12-month suspended prison sentence.

Control Over Company Operations

Investigations revealed that Etherington maintained significant control over PP Global Media Limited during his disqualification period, despite appointing numerous named directors. The company, originally registered as 09 Media Limited in February 2019, was renamed shortly thereafter, with its registered office at Etherington’s home address.

Evidence indicated that he orchestrated key financial decisions, including the acquisition of a Bounce Back Loan in May 2020, by persuading a named director to sign the application on the company’s behalf. Furthermore, he recruited individuals to director roles, offering shares and positions while retaining control over financial matters and the company’s bank account.

Former directors and business associates corroborated that Etherington dictated staffing decisions, managed the company’s financial relationships, negotiated advertising contracts, and sanctioned significant expenditures without the knowledge or approval of other directors. One former director noted feeling “undermined and sidelined” and confirmed Etherington’s unchecked authority over financial transactions.

Continuing Operations Without a Registered Director

Even after the resignation of the last named director in February 2022, Etherington continued to manage company affairs without any registered director at Companies House. He proceeded to organise workshops, pursue new business opportunities, and negotiate licensing deals for the PP Global brand.

For those wishing to report disqualified directors like Etherington who contravene their bans, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers. The Insolvency Service remains dedicated to enhancing director conduct while offering support to those in need, yet will take stringent action against individuals who operate outside the law.

Further details about the Insolvency Service’s work and how to report financial misconduct can be found through their dedicated resources.