Romford joiner sentenced after using Covid loan for personal spending
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-08)

Charles Ling was handed a 15-month suspended sentence after he used part of a £30,000 Covid Bounce Back Loan for a mortgage payment and cash withdrawals

Charles Ling applied for a second Covid Bounce Back loan for Bradcon (Bespoke) Joinery Ltd

Ling falsely stated that it was his first loan and that it would be used wholly for business purposes

He was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 2 April 2025 for fraud by false representation and has repaid the loan

A Romford man who ran a joinery business in Essex has been handed a 15-month suspended sentence, and 100 hours unpaid work, after he claimed a second Covid Bounce Back Loan and used some of the money for personal spending.

Charles Ling, of North Road, Havering-atte-Bower, had already received a £20,000 Bounce Back Loan in May 2020 which was both valid and used legitimately to support Bradcon (Bespoke) Joinery Ltd.

But the 57-year-old then successfully applied to a bank for a second Covid loan of £30,000 in June 2020.

In the days that followed, he withdrew £9,000 in cash and transferred a £2,500 mortgage payment from the loan.

The Insolvency Service investigation found that he had falsely claimed it was his first Bounce Back Loan and none of the £11,500 was used for business purposes.

Ling was charged with one count of fraud by false representation and sentenced to 15 months in custody, suspended for 18 months, at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday 2 April. He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He paid back the £30,000 loan after prosecution action began.

David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

Charles Ling stated that this was his first Covid Bounce Back Loan, and that it would be spent wholly on his joinery business, but this was not the case.

These loans were designed to help support businesses through the pandemic, not for personal use at the expense of the public purse.

We are committed to investigating these cases and bringing those responsible to justice.

The Insolvency Service investigation did not find any wrongdoing with the use of Ling’s first Covid Bounce Back Loan of £20,000, which he was entitled to and was used entirely for business purposes.

The maximum loan under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme was £50,000. Any loan must be paid back over six to 10 years. If the money is not repaid, then the Insolvency Service can investigate a company even if it has been dissolved.

Further information

Charles Ling is of North Road, Havering-Atte-Bower, Romford. His date of birth is 4 January 1968

Bradcon (Bespoke) Joinery Ltd (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/xx-xxxx-xxxx) (company number xx-xxxx-xxxx) was incorporated on 1 February 2005

Sentenced for: one count of fraud by false representation, contrary to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006

Read more about the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and the action the Insolvency Service can take if it finds misconduct (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fact-sheet-bounce-back-loans/fact-sheet-bounce-back-loans#if-we-find-misconduct)

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct. (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/insolvency-service)