Dominic Chappell, the former owner of BHS who was jailed for tax evasion in 2020, has had his civil trial over the business’s collapse postponed for six months while he receives treatment for prostrate cancer.
Chappell, 56, was released from prison earlier this month after serving half of his six-month sentence, just days before he and two business associates were due to face a civil trial for wrongful trading brought by BHS’s liquidator. The liquidator is suing for more than £130m.
He hit the headlines in 2015 when Sir Philip Green sold the troubled retail chain to a consortium led by Chappell for £1.
The business fell into administration in 2016 with the loss of more than 10,000 jobs and a large pension deficit.
In a ruling handed down today, trial judge Mr Justice Leech ruled that Chappell’s trial should be adjourned for six months while he receives cancer treatment, and also because it has been difficult for him to prepare for the trial while in prison.
“Although treatment for prostate cancer may be considerably less invasive than it used to be, I accept that it is not practically possible for Mr Chappell to participate in a heavy trial whilst undergoing treatment,” the judge said.
“In my judgment, it would not be fair to continue with the trial of the claims against Mr Chappell in circumstances where the effect of refusing the adjournment would be to preclude his participation.”
Even so, he said that the trial of his former colleagues, Lennard Henningson and Dominic Chandler, should continue to schedule.
To send feedback, e-mail newsdesk@eg.co.uk or tweet @EGPropertyNews
