Michelle Mone makes 'millions in profits' after selling off Glasgow townhouses
It comes after Glasgow-born Mone and her billionaire husband Doug Barrowman had £75m worth of assets frozen by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
The couple are at the centre of a fraud probe over the firm PPE Medpro, controlled by Barrowman, that was awarded £203m worth of UK Government contracts through a 'VIP lane' during the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ MORE: Supreme Court's sex ruling faces legal tests – will they succeed?
In November 2023, Mone finally admitted her involvement with PPE Medpro for the first time, after years of denying any links to the company.
It then emerged Barrowman was reportedly paid at least £65m from PPE Medpro's profits, later transferring £29m into a trust for Mone and her three adult children.
Several properties were frozen under the Proceeds of Crime Act in 2023.
And now, Mone has reportedly sold her Glasgow homes. The Mail on Sunday reports that there is no suggestion any of the property sales breached any existing orders put in place by the NCA.
One townhouse in Glasgow's plush Park Circus was bought by Barrowman's Knox business group for £1.7m in 2020. The couple have now reportedly sold this to a photographer for £2m last year.
Another nearby townhouse was sold for £2.8m, allegedly to a Scottish musician, who was not named. It was bought in July 2020 for just over £1.4m.
A spokesperson for the NCA confirmed an investigation is still ongoing into PPE Medpro.
'The NCA opened an investigation in May 2021 into suspected criminal offences committed in the procurement of PPE contracts by PPE Medpro,' they said.
'This ongoing investigation remains a priority for the agency.
READ MORE: Scottish independence 'already begun as UK political culture diverges'
'Investigations must pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry. In serious economic crime investigations these lines of enquiry can be incredibly complex – from worldwide financial tracing exercises to the need to examine large volumes of digital material.
'In such cases it can take considerable time to ensure that a thorough, independent and objective investigation is conducted.'
PPE Medpro is also being sued by the Department of Health and Social Care, amid claims that the gown supplied by the firm were not fit for use.
We previously told how Mone accused the NCA of "smearing [her] as a criminal".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
26 minutes ago
- Daily Record
A look back at Scotland's sinister witch trials as victims to be commemorated
West Dunbartonshire is planning to erect a memorial to honour 17th-century Scottish Witch Trial victims West Dunbartonshire could see a memorial erected to honour the victims of the Scottish Witch Trials, commemorating those persecuted for witchcraft during the 17th century. Councillor Chris Pollok is set to present a motion at the next full council meeting to formally recognise the women and men accused of witchcraft in the local area. The initiative is supported by the charity Remembering the Accused Witches of Scotland, which aims to preserve the memory of those accused and to work with schools and libraries to teach the history of these tragic events, Glasgow Live reports. The witch trials were set against a backdrop of religious fervour. Following the establishment of Protestantism as Scotland's official religion in 1560, the government and the Church were keen to enforce strict moral conduct. The Witchcraft Act was introduced under these pressures, driven by the belief that malevolent individuals in league with the Devil threatened the nation's wellbeing. One of the cruelest methods used to extract confessions was pricking. So-called 'witch prickers' pierced the accused with needles, often in intimate areas, searching for a Devil's mark, which was thought to be invulnerable to pain or bleeding. Many times, natural marks such as warts, moles or scars were interpreted as evidence. Neighbour testimonies, often arising from personal quarrels, were also commonly used to implicate others. The majority of those accused were women, reflecting societal beliefs that women were weak-willed and more easily influenced by the Devil. The Witchcraft Act itself did not define what constituted witchcraft, yet communities regularly identified supposed witches. Many accused individuals were ordinary people whose perceived independence or assertiveness, known as 'smeddum', challenged contemporary ideals of femininity. Some cases illustrate the devastating reach of these trials. In 1597, the Leyis family faced accusations spanning decades. The matriarch, Johnnet Wischert, was accused of shapeshifting and other misdeeds, while her son Thomas was implicated in leading a witches' sabbath at Aberdeen's Mercat Cross. Both were executed, while other family members were banished for associating with convicted witches. Torture and interrogation were routine. In Orkney in 1616, Elspeth Reoch, accused of witchcraft, was beaten by her own brother to force a confession. Similarly, in 1623, Issobell Haldane admitted to consorting with fairies after seeking water from a healing well for a sick child. In 1661, Issobell Fergussone was pricked and forced to confess to a pact with the Devil, ultimately leading to her execution. The fate of most accused witches is largely unknown, though historical estimates suggest about two-thirds were executed. Many were strangled before being burned, and only a few were burned alive. The final Scottish witchcraft execution occurred in 1727, when Janet Horne was imprisoned, tried, and condemned after her daughter was allegedly transformed into a pony by the Devil. By the eighteenth century, scepticism about witchcraft had grown, and evidence such as pricking was deemed unreliable. In 1736, the British Parliament repealed both the Scottish and English Witchcraft Acts. In 2022, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a public apology for the historic persecution, describing it as 'injustice on a colossal scale.' The Church of Scotland also acknowledged the harm inflicted on thousands, mostly women, with estimates suggesting 3,000 to 5,000 accused and around 2,500 executed, approximately five times the European average, with 84 percent of those accused being women. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Names of the 31 accused witches of West Dunbartonshire 1624 Jonet MacKinley (executed) Marioun MacLintock (executed) Marioun Fallisdaill (executed) John Taylor (unknown outcome) 1628 Jonet Boyd (executed) Marioun MacLintock (unknown outcome) Janet Weill (unknown outcome) 1629 Janet Donald (executed) Jonet Neill (executed) Margaret Hunter (unknown outcome) 1630 Janet Mitchell (unknown outcome) 1632 Lord John Colquhoun (absconded) Thomas Carlipis (unknown outcome) 1643 Bessie Bargillie (executed) 1649 Margaret Corruith (executed) Jonet Davisonne (executed) Agnes McKen (executed) 1650 Jonet Patersone (executed) Margaret McMurich (executed) Jonet McClintock (unknown outcome) Jonet Colquhoun (executed) Margaret McInlay (executed) Jonet Ewing (executed) Jonet Stewart (unknown outcome) 1656 John McWilliam (executed) 1671 Jonet Howat (unknown outcome) 1677 Margaret Wright (executed) Issobell Laing (executed) Jonet Munn (executed) Margaret Paterson (executed) 1697 Margaret McKillope (executed)
Daily Record
26 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Hedge fund tycoon buys Isle of Rona as last two inhabitants set to leave
Daniel Luhde-Thompson, along with his wife Cressida Pollock, former CEO of English National Opera, have taken over the Isle of Rona, near Skye, with its two remaining inhabitants set to leave. A hedge fund tycoon whose Cayman Islands-based firm invests in arms companies supplying Israel has bought a remote Scots isle. Daniel Luhde-Thompson, along with his wife Cressida Pollock, former CEO of English National Opera, have taken over the Isle of Rona, near Skye, with its two remaining inhabitants set to leave. Now questions have been raised about his ties to controversial investment fund Quadrature Capital, where he is a senior strategic adviser. The firm, which pays staff an average salary of around £2.5million, donated £4m to Keir Starmer's Labour party ahead of last year's general election, Britain's sixth-largest political donation ever. Concerns later emerged about Quadrature's backing of weapons, fossil fuels and private healthcare firms. It included nearly £100m of shares last year in firms supporting Israel's assault in Gaza such as arms company Lockheed Martin which supplies F-35 jets used to bomb Palestinians. Campaigners – who warn Scotland is being turned into a playground for the super-rich – say the sale of Rona should have been subject to a public interest test. Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess said: 'Our islands are special places and it is sad when they are treated as a commodity or a status symbol for the wealthy and powerful. 'I'm certainly alarmed by some of the new owner's associations and investments of the fund, which could not be further from the values of people on Skye.' Scotland has some of the most concentrated land ownership in the western world. Half of all private Scots land is owned – astonishingly – by 400 people. The Scottish Government's draft Land Reform Bill has been criticised as too timid to tackle land monopolies by millionaires and billionaires. Burgess said she was urging ministers to 'introduce strict public interest tests that take into account the impact on communities when sales take place'. The sale of 2400-acre Rona for an undisclosed fee was revealed last month. Between Skye and Raasay, it is home to roaming deer and minke whale sightings. Its two residents, Bill Cowie and Lorraine Shill, who have looked after it for over 20 years, are retiring and moving to Skye. Revelations about Quadrature's investments in arms firms – and shares worth about £125m in oil companies – emerged after it said it donated to Labour based on its green policies. London-based Luhde-Thomp-son also personally gave over £500,000 to the party last year. Quadrature says it uses 'market-neutral trading strategies' – meaning it holds long and short positions stocks at the same time. It has also denied its registration in the Cayman Islands was done for tax avoidance. Luhde-Thompson and Pollock bought Rona through firm Fior Rona Ltd, set up in June. A source close to Luhde-Thompson criticised 'ill-informed analysis on Quadrature's business and its values', noting he is a long-time donor to environmental and conservation causes. Fior Rona Ltd said it will 'look to carry on the excellent work of the previous owners and custodians and will try to ensure that the natural heritage continues to thrive'.
Daily Record
26 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Marble Global Buffet announces opening at The Centre in Livingston next year
The buffet chain serves up dishes from around the world, and it will be the second restaurant in Scotland, with the first previously opening in Glasgow. Marble Global Buffet have announced they will be coming to The Centre in Livingston in May 2026. The buffet chain serves up dishes from around the world, and it will be the second restaurant in Scotland, with the first previously opening in Glasgow. Barbecue, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Chinese, a salad bar and dessert bar is understood to be in the works at the West Lothian venue for next year. It will join hospitality businesses: Auntie Anne's, Bakers + Baristas, Beleaf, Burger King, Café W at Waterstones, Chopstix, Cinnabon, Costa Coffee, Dnisi Coffee, Five Guys, Greggs, Krispy Kreme, Las Iguanas, M&S Cafe, Mall Café Bar, Muffin Break, Nando's, NowNow Cafe, Starbucks, Subway, The Parry Lamp, The Wintergarden Cafe and wagamama. In a statement on The Centre website, Marble said: 'Marble Buffet has exciting plans to open a 380-seater restaurant at The Centre, Livingston, which will be their first one in a Scottish shopping centre. 'The 15,770 sq. ft. contemporary designed restaurant, will be located above Nando's on Almondvale Boulevard, and is expected to open in May 2026. 'It will feature live cooking stations with skilled chefs creating a wide selection of dishes from around the world including Asian, Indian and European.'
