Bogus bounce back loan claim leads to director’s ban

The director of a Lincoln-based plumbing company has been disqualified for 11 years after dishonestly securing a Covid bounce back loan for the business.

Carl Barnes, the director of Central Plumbing & Heating Lincoln Ltd, made false statements about the company’s turnover to secure a Bounce Back loan. 

The 45-year-old received a loan of £47,500 for the company after claiming it had a turnover of £340,000 when it had made nothing at all.

The company, based on Wavell Drive in Lincoln, was incorporated in 2016 and made a small profit in its first year of trading, but dormant accounts were filed by Barnes in the following years.   

In August 2020, Barnes, of Ollerton Road, Retford, falsely claimed the company had a turnover of £340,000 for 2019. Barnes was disqualified as a director for 11 years with the ban beginning on May 8, 2025.   

Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Carl Barnes exploited the Bounce Back Loan Scheme by providing false information about his company’s turnover.   

“His dishonesty has resulted in this significant director disqualification, which prevents him from forming or managing a company for more than a decade.    

“The Insolvency Service will continue to investigate those who abused this scheme – designed to help small businesses during the pandemic – and bring them to justice.”

Central Plumbing & Heating Lincoln Ltd went into liquidation in October 2022.   

The disqualification order prevents Barnes from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.