Bootle father and daughter jailed for £65k Covid loan fraud

Bootle Car and Commercial was a long-running family business, incorporated in 1984, while Bootle Cars & Commercials was set up in February 2020 – with the defendants saying they wanted to expand the latter into the Isle of Man.

Within two weeks of legitimately receiving a £25,000 loan for Bootle Cars & Commercials, Catherine Deegan applied for another £15,000 from a separate bank, after her application for a top-up from the initial provider was rejected as the firm was not entitled.

She then made £3,000 in payments to herself from this loan, including for rent on a caravan.

In May 2020, Ms Deegan then legitimately secured a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan for the other firm Bootle Car and Commercial.

Her father Gerard, who was aware of the loan, then applied for another £50,000 Bounce Back Loan for the same firm a month later.

Liquidators were appointed for the firm in December 2021.

The pair have been sentenced for fraud by false representation at Liverpool Crown Court.

Ms Deegan, of Ferndale Road, Bootle, was also convicted of acquiring criminal property and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Her father, of Moss Lane, Lydiate, was disqualified as a company director for 10 years and placed under an electronically-monitored curfew between 6pm and 6am for the next eight months.