Auto Testing Ltd directors disqualified

Janice Rogers (61) and Elizabeth Dagg (70), both from Northumberland, were directors of Auto Testing Limited (ATL) before they were disqualified from being company directors for allowing a third boss, Stewart Rogers, to manage the business while he was disqualified from being a company director.

Incorporated in February 2007, ATL operated as a car mechanics, fuel station and convenience store. However, 72-year-old Stewart Rogers from Northumberland had been previously disqualified for five years in January 2011 in relation to his conduct as director of a separate company, Northern 4 x 4 Centre LTD, and should not have been managing the business.

The company entered voluntary liquidation in October 2016 and the Insolvency Service were tipped off to Stewart Rogers’ involvement.

Investigators were able to gather evidence which showed that Stewart Rogers had been running ATL and Janice Rogers, Stewart’s current wife, and Elizabeth Dagg, his ex-wife, had been aware of his disqualification.

On 17 October 2018, the Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from Stewart Rogers, after he admitted acting as director whilst disqualified. His ban is effective from 7 November 2018 and lasts for 11 years.

On the same day, the Secretary of State accepted disqualification undertakings from Janice Rogers and Elizabeth Dagg, after both admitted allowing Stewart Rogers to act as director whilst disqualified. Both bans are effective from 7 November 2018 and last for 5 years.

Robert Clarke, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:

“Our investigation showed that Stewart Rogers was acting as a director of Auto Testing Limited in direct breach of the earlier disqualification undertaking he had given, and that Janice Rogers and Elizabeth Dagg had allowed him to do so.

“The Insolvency Service will vigorously pursue directors who ignore disqualification restrictions against them, as well as those that allow such directors to act. The length of the undertakings in this case sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”