Tough Restrictions for Sheffield Hairdresser and Baker Who Falsely Claimed £98,000 in Covid Loans
A Sheffield hairdresser and baker have been handed tough restrictions after falsely claiming nearly £100,000 in Covid loans.
Simone Woodhead, 41, owner of Edwards & Co hair salon in Fulwood, and Jonathan Butterworth, 43, who ran Bettys Bread in Broomhill, were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday 20 January.
Woodhead, of Ratcliffe Court, Fulwood, was handed a 12-month community order with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Butterworth, of Broomhill Lane, Broomhill, was sentenced to a two-year community order with a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
The pair were also ordered to pay back the money they fraudulently claimed, with Woodhead ordered to repay £52,395 and Butterworth ordered to repay £45,687.
The court heard how Woodhead made false claims for three Bounce Back Loans and one Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant between April and July 2020.
She claimed she employed 10 staff and paid them a total of £19,500 a month, but investigators from the Insolvency Service found she had been overstating her earnings and expenses for a number of years.
Butterworth falsely claimed for two Bounce Back Loans and two SEISS grants between April and July 2020.
He claimed he employed three staff and paid them a combined total of £18,000 per month, but investigators found that he had no employees.
Both Woodhead and Butterworth admitted the offences at an earlier hearing.
Julie Palmer, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said: “Woodhead and Butterworth abused the government’s Covid support schemes, which were designed to help legitimate businesses during the pandemic.
“Their actions diverted vital funds away from those who genuinely needed them and undermined public trust in the financial support system.
“We will continue to investigate and take action against those who seek to defraud the taxpayer.”
Tough restrictions for Sheffield hairdresser and baker who falsely claimed £98,000 in Covid loans
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