The Grand Escape — or Stainer’s Surrender?
What links the two pictures below? In a word “debt”
On the left is a picture of the Marshalsea, immortalised in Dickens’s “Little Dorrit”. It housed a variety of prisoners and became infamous for its incarceration of London’s debtors Over half the population of England’s prisons in the 18th century were in jail because of debt.
On the right we have the Grand, famous for all sorts of reasons, but at present a perverse form of infamy for the shelter and support it provides to the Stainers, Michael and Doris (pictured), former bankrupts of this parish.
How lucky we are that we no longer confine our bankrupts to debtor’s prison. We no longer strip them of their assets. We permit them to fraternise with the great and the good of our community and seize photo opportunities, gate-crash events and even nominate our members of parliament.
What an enlightened age…………………….. whoooah!!! Hold your horses!
Let’s roll back this discussion and consider the facts of the matter from the perspective of those who are owed money. Not all creditors are vultures demanding their pound of flesh, but ordinary people struggling to meet their bills to keep their roofs over their heads. Some are local tradespeople – butchers, bakers and candlestick makers…. And don’t forget our local hospitals, schools and care-homes whose very existence depends on everyone of us paying their taxes.
These are the real victims of the Stainer bankruptcies.
So what “should” have happened since November 8th 2018 when they were declared bankrupt.
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The eighteen flats that made up their holiday let “empire” should have been repossessed as these were the principal known asset of the Stainers. Their combined value would be around £1 million, less the outstanding mortgages, even allowing for the “missing” flat located in Keppels.
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The income from these flats, estimated to be around £350,000 should have been diverted to meet their debt.
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Any investigations into misconduct before and during bankruptcy as directors should have been concluded and reports passed on to the appropriate authorities for possible criminal proceedings.
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Proceeding for possible disqualification as directors considered and proceeded with.
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And finally, creditors should have been paid out all, or part of what they are owed.
What has happened?
Nothing, zilch, tiddly squat, bugger all………
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The eighteen flats continue to be enjoyed by unwitting visitors, clairvoyants, honeymooning couples and for all we know, Lord Lucan.
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The income from these flats flows on, and on and ends up who knows where……managed of course by Robert Richardson
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Any investigations????? Certainly no outcomes.
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Disqualification? Not a whisper.
Who ran all these activities during this bankruptcy process? Michael Stainer of course, and according to him, doing so at the behest of the Official Receiver!
Who “fronted” up for this? ‘Robert Moss’……. The mysterious puppet director who has repeatedly refused to comply with the Money Laundering Regulations. According to the Government’s website this include checking someone’s ID with reference to:
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A photograph on an official document which confirms their identity
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Proof of residential address and date of birth
Is someone being protected here and if so why? Have the Insolvency Practitioners got cold feet? Perhaps Shepway Vox should contact them to request that they provide an update on their activities.
Are you surprised, the strainers activities in all sorts of areas have been on own to the authorities over a period of at least 35 years, if they didn’t take proper actions then, why would they now ?
You may also want to obtain a copy of the local Conservative Association’s most recent published accounts to ascertain whether or not Michael Stainer (or any of the businesses connected with him) have been making large donations in cash or kind.
The Council paid the Grand some £1400 in October……
Certain former directors still collect takings after weekend trading and sign cheques for suppliers and wage roll.