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Former BHS boss Dominic Chappell tells court he can't afford taxis

Chappell, who declared an income of more than £250,000, has been banned from driving for six months for speeding

Ben Chapman
Wednesday 24 August 2016 08:29 BST
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Dominic Chappell being questioned before the Business Innovation and Skills Committee in June
Dominic Chappell being questioned before the Business Innovation and Skills Committee in June

Former BHS boss Dominic Chapell has been banned from driving for six months for speeding.

Chappell told a court he would struggle to afford taxis to London to face the three investigations he is currently under for the collapse of BHS. He added: "I have only once taken the train to London and was in one of the carriages and two people I didn't know came over and started making quite strong language and suggestions."

The 49-year-old was driving a green Range Rover on Churchill Way, Andover, when police clocked him driving at an average speed of 63.9mph in a 40mph zone at 8.47pm on 6 April.

After being pulled over, Chappell told the police: “This will cost me £25,000. I've been driving since I was 18 and have never had an accident.

“I drive an average of 35,000 miles a year and I used to be a race car driver.”

Chappell was disqualified from driving for six months at Aldershot Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He pleaded guilty to the offence and was given six points on his licence to add to the 10 he had received for other offences in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

He was also fined £665 and ordered to pay £150 in costs.

Three-times bankrupt Chappell, who bought the ailing retail chain for £1, said it would be a “stretch” to pay for a chauffeur, but also declared an income of over £250,000 per year.

Speaking after the hearing, he said: “I have been disqualified for six months. I respect the court's decision.

“I was speeding and shouldn't have been, and that's what happened. I am sorry for that.”

BHS CEO on Chappell threats

The former Formula Three driver made headlines when he told a Commons Select Committee that the £2.6m he extracted from BHS had not contributed to its downfall.

The 80 year-old high street name, which will finally close its doors this week, was forced into administration, leaving 11,000 people out of work and a £571m pension fund black hole. The pension scheme may require a bailout from the Pension Protection Fund.

Sir Philip Green tells Sky News cameraman 'that's going in the f****ng sea'

Retail magnate Sir Philip Green, who sold BHS to Chappell, has come under intense fire for paying himself and his family more than £580m in dividends, rental payments and interest from BHS to fund his lavish lifestyle.

A damning report from MPs said the billionaire left the company “on life support” before handing it over to Chappell, who had no retail experience.

Last week, Green threatened to throw a TV news camera “in the f***ing sea” after being questioned by reporters about BHS’s collapse while holidaying on his £100m yacht.

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