Philip Stott has been instructed by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as junior prosecution counsel in the case of FCA v Aidan Earley, Douglas Ware, Richard Spurway and Wulstan Earley in respect of charges arising out of the demise of Worthington Group PLC over the period 2012-2016. It is alleged that the first four defendants engaged in two counts of fraudulent trading, contrary to s.993 of the Companies Act 2006. Aidan Earley is also charged with acting as a director whilst disqualified under s.13 of the Directors Disqualification Act 1986 while Wulstan Earley is charged with concealing etc the proceeds of crime under s.327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The defendants made their first appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 20 October 2022, whereupon the case was sent to the Crown Court at Southwark. Philip will be led at trial by John McGuinness KC.
