The owner of a Southport business falsely claimed a £50,000 government loan during the coronavirus pandemic.
Belinda Bakerman, who opened Bella's Ice Cream, on Lord Street, submitted a claim for the maximum amount available from the Bounce Back Loan scheme, despite her shop not being eligible. Her business should have only been awarded a fraction of that amount.
A large amount of the £50,000 was also transferred to a company owned by a relative, despite this being against the rules. LancsLive reports almost none of the money was repaid when by the time the business was liquidated, with as little as £1,000 being paid back.
