Peterlee Tomb Raider composer jailed for Covid loan fraud
"Connelly not only secured two loans when businesses were only allowed one, but deliberately inflated his company's turnover to receive more money than he was entitled to," he said.
Lucrative work
Connelly's musical career saw him work on additional sound for the Tomb Raider III before he became the lead composer for Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: Chronicles, and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness.When officers from the Insolvency Service interviewed him, he said was working on an re-imagining of the music from the Tomb Raider soundtracks and claimed the project had the potential to be very lucrative.He began borrowing money through the Covid business loan scheme in May 2020, when he took out an initial £22,000.While the first loan was legal, he then applied for a second loan in June through a different bank.During the application, he claimed his company's turnover was £150,000 but the Insolvency Service discovered the real figure was £58,000.
His company went into liquidation in August 2021 before either loan had been repaid.Connelly also personally entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) in June 2022, which committed him to repaying his debts through regular payments to an insolvency practitioner.
Connelly pleaded guilty to dishonestly making false representation to make gains for himself or cause loss to another.As well as being jailed, he was disqualified from being a company director for six years.
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
9 minutes ago
- The Sun
More protests held outside migrant hotels across UK as anger over crisis continues to rise
MORE protests have been held outside migrant hotels across the country yesterday as anger over the issue continues to rise. Another demonstration was held nearby to the Brittania International Hotel in Canary Wharf, East London — which had been revealed earlier this week to be set to house asylum-seekers. 4 4 4 The large group of various ethnicities held a banner saying: 'Stop calling us far right. "Protect our women and children.' Meanwhile, rival groups clashed outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. Around 300 anti-migrant protesters had been kept in one fenced-off pen while around 500 in the pro-migrant group were in another, with cops between them. Around 500 officers from 31 forces across England and Wales attended — with three arrests reported by Essex Police, including a woman on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. It was the latest incident in Epping since Ethiopian asylum-seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was accused of sexual assault. He has denied three charges. Elsewhere, around 250 protested near the Brook Hotel in Norwich, while more than 200 stood outside a migrant hotel in Altrincham, Gtr Manchester. Other gatherings over the weekend have been reported in Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Leeds. Migrant hotel protests spread across the country with more planned today as cops clamp down on weekend of stand-offs 4 Four in 10 sex attack charges non-Brits Exclusive by Jack Elsom NEARLY four in ten people charged over sex attacks in London in the last seven years are foreign nationals, police figures show. Non-Brits are thought to be behind 2,809 out of 7,798 such crimes — 36 per cent — but make up less than a quarter of the city's population. A further 358 charged are of unknown nationality, meaning the foreigner total may be higher. Brits accounted for 4,631 charges. The largest cohort of foreign suspects were Romanian at 308, but Afghans are the most prolific by share of population at 89. The Centre for Migration Control obtained figures on nationalities of those charged with sex offences since 2018. It said: 'The spike in sexual offences against women and girls is directly attributable to our open borders.' The Home Office said: 'We continue to deport foreign nationals who commit heinous crimes in the UK.' Fury over Sharia law job advert A JOB ad for a 'Sharia law administrator' on the Department for Work and Pensions website sparked fury. Islamic Sharia law is followed by many Muslims around the world — though it is not accepted in the UK. The Manchester Sharia Council job pays £23,500 a year to help provide guidance on matrimonial matters under Sharia law. It requires a diploma or degree in Sharia law but only 'familiarity' with our legal system. Reform UK's Nigel Farage warned: 'Our country and its values are being destroyed'. Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This is wrong. 'We only have one set of laws in the country. No other law should be recognised by the state.'
The Guardian
9 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Honest Hayes and Wright shine as ITV and BBC go head-to-head for Euro 2025 final
Sarina Wiegman's team playing disjointedly, yet rescued by moments of inspiration and fortune. It is why 'Proper England', to use the Lionesses' Euro 2025 mission statement, wins record audiences, an expected worldwide audience of 46 million dragged through Sunday night drama, putting Poldark and Mr Darcy to shame. Across the BBC and ITV, Euro 2025 coverage has not been nearly so happy-clappy as the BBC's Team GB-Beebies, sub-Henman Hill Olympics cheerleading. Perhaps the cruelty of football as a game precludes that. Once the game is afoot, there are few hiding places. Still, there has been a cheeriness to both channels' female lead presenters – Laura Woods for ITV, Gabby Logan for BBC – so rarely seen in the male equivalent. None of the sardonic shrugging of a Gary Lineker, or for older viewers, Des Lynam, little English reserve. Decades of male national team failure made that a default setting, as did hammering players and managers alike. By contrast, the Lionesses had reached a third major final in a row, and as repeat Euro champions are an actual success story a nation can get fully behind. There's very little to hammer. Both choosing a lengthy buildup, ITV stole a 10-minute march, going early with the camera zooming to Woods in the centre circle of St Jakob-Park, Basel. 'Are you ready to do it all over again?' she asked, soon enough alongside the former Chelsea and current USA coach Emma Hayes, the ex-England international Karen Carney and Ian Wright, the former England striker having resumed his role as women's football favourite uncle. 'It's nothing to do with me,' Wrighty replied when depicted as a lucky charm. 'They've made it hard, I'm just pleased to be here.' 'To be honest, they're the best,' the never-less-than-honest Hayes said of the hot favourites Spain. By now, the BBC had kicked off with a good-luck message from Harry Kane, before then mashing up footage of England's progress with Focus Is Power, by Self Esteem, the south Yorkshire musician telling the camera: 'A little girl in England can grow up and say I want to be a footballer – the impossible made possible.' Logan was joined by the former Lionesses Ellen White and Steph Houghton and the former Manchester City player Nedum Onuoha. 'In Sarina, we trust,' White said as news of Wiegman's team selection arrived. Still more than a full hour to kick-off, including some of that soft-focus performance poetry beloved on such sporting occasions by TV execs. It dragged. Eventually Wrighty admitted: 'Yeah, I'm getting nervous now.' It was not an entirely wasted hour. On ITV, a reminder of what women's football fought off, footage showing the 1970s legend Rodney Marsh and the late doyen of football journalism Brian Glanville's rank dismissiveness, ending with the Lioness Beth Mead telling those who lived through this: 'You helped change the game for the better, be proud of that.' 'It's laughable now,' said Wrighty, visibly embarrassed by football-man forefathers. Finally, time for the commentators, Robyn Cowen on BBC, Seb Hutchinson on ITV, two safe pairs of hands, the former England goalkeeper Rachel Finnis-Brown alongside Cowen, the fine tactical toothcomb of Lucy Ward, once of Leeds, accompanying Hutchinson. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion 'England almost finding a way through,' Hutchinson's baritone growled during one early near-miss. Commentating on such matches isn't easy; willing on one side while trying to maintain a soupçon of neutrality, all while hoping to nail the moments that matter. 'It's a gorgeous Spain goal,' Cowen said as Mariona Caldentey scored. 'Too easy,' Ward said. By half-time, despite the talismanic Chloe Kelly replacing James, the mood was sombre. 'We've been totally off it,' Wrighty lamented. 'England lack freshness,' explained Hayes. Alessia Russo's goal – and name – received the same reaction from both commentators. 'Russoooo!' roared Robyn. So did Seb. 'Never write England off!' he bellowed. By now his growls were recalling the great Brian Moore. Cowen said 'time seems to be slowing down' as extra time approached. 'England were never going to make this comfortable, I can't bear it,' Woods said. Hayes said: 'I love it.' As the cost of mistakes grew, the game's entertainment values became more slasher movie than high-class narrative. 'I'm not sure this is good for our health,' Cowen said before the unfailing dopamine hit of penalties arrived. 'I just can't do it again,' White said. 'A huge moment for Hannah Hampton,' Cowen said after the keeper's first save. 'Calm Niamh Charles,' Hutchinson roared before next: 'Hampton, all the way.' England had grabbed the initiative. Cue Kelly. 'The legendary Lionesses,' Hutchinson said. 'Now that is proper English,' Cowen said. Both had successfully landed the words they had waited so long to be able to say.
Daily Mail
9 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Hundreds of Nigerian migrants are allowed into Britain after using visa scheme for authors, poets and storytellers
Hundreds of Nigerian migrants are cheating the system by using a visa scheme meant for authors and other literary creatives. They have made the most applications for the scheme, which also covers poets, oral storytellers and creators of graphic novels and comics. Those who are successful are able to bring their family into the UK as dependents and stay for up to five years at a time. The Nigerian migrants have also been the most successful in their applications, endorsed by the government quango Arts Council England, which can review and bolster applications for 'Global Talent' visas. This includes those with exceptional talents in music, theatre and dance and those applying are expected to prove their skills. Nigerians have put in 125 applications to the literature category over the past five years - more than double the 61 received from the US and far more than nations like Australia, Canada and New Zealand combined. Of those, 70 were rejected, and 54 were endorsed – more than any other country represented in official figures. The number of Global Talent visa applications being submitted from Nigeria has risen by 2,225 per cent since 2019. There were just 12 applications in 2019, but this rose to 279 in 2024, figures from The Telegraph revealed. Across that entire period, Nigerians made 729 applications across the Global Talent categories in dance, fashion, music, film and TV, theatre, combined arts, and visual arts. They came second to the US who submitted 977. However, Nigeria had the lowest number of endorsements after Ghana, with just 59 per cent. Russia have submitted 725 applications, china had 492, Australia with 233 and India with 160. Since 2019, more than 5,000 applications have been made across all nationalities, with 3,600 endorsed by the Arts Council. Immigration has reached record number for illegal and legal arrivals, as Labour face mounting pressures to curb the soaring number of migrants. The Home Office has not revealed how many of these endorsements then lead to visas being signed off.
