Sticky Print Ltd, which traded as Think Sign & Print, was incorporated on 9 April 2014 with Stephen Clarke from Birstall, Leicester, appointed as the only director to the business, which provided digital, graphic and signage print services in the local area.

In June 2016, Amanda Clarke was subsequently appointed as a director, following her husband’s resignation. However, in August 2017 the business entered into liquidation, owing £85,795 to creditors.

This triggered an investigation by the Insolvency Service and investigators found that Stephen Clarke, who had been involved in the printing industry for a number of years, had been disqualified from acting as a director for three and a half years in June 2016.

This took place while he was running Sticky Print and was connected to his conduct when he was a director of a previous company, Think Plan B, where he was banned for failing to ensure the company complied with its tax obligations.

Investigators established that Stephen Clarke continued to run Sticky Print in breach of his ban despite his formal resignation as a director, appointing his wife as director after his disqualification came into effect.

On 30 October 2018, the Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from Stephen Clarke who admitted continuing to act as a director of Sticky Print in contravention of the terms of the disqualification undertaking he agreed to on 22 May 2016. His ban is effective as of last Tuesday (20 November 2018) and lasts for eight years.

The Secretary of State also accepted a disqualification undertaking from Amanda Clarke on 30 October 2018 after she admitted to allowing Stephen Clarke to continue to act as a director of Sticky Print in contravention of the terms of his previous disqualification. Her ban, which is also effective as of 20 November 2018, lasts for six years.

Insolvency Service deputy head of investigations Jane Knight said: “Stephen Clarke knowingly breached the terms of his disqualification, thereby putting the company’s creditors at risk.

“His disqualification means that he will not be able to run a limited company for eight years and will help to prevent future losses to suppliers. Amanda Clarke’s disqualification means that she will not be able to provide Stephen Clarke with the opportunity to run a limited company in the future.”