A failed haulage boss who stole his brother's identity so he could stay in business has been branded thoroughly dishonest by a Judge.
Shaun Standen pretended to be his older brother Kevin to get round a ban on being a company director but the ploy came unstuck because he is more than six foot tall and his brother is just 5'4''.
The bankrupt businessman was subject to a 15 year prohibition on running any company but was determined to keep his failing haulage business going after landing a lucrative contract.
He took on the name of Kevin during dealings with suppliers and transport department officials to hide his involvement in the business, which operated out of a yard behind the Elmore football ground in Tiverton.
His moved his old business, which traded as Westcountry Transport and Westcountry Storage and Distribution from its yard East Anstey, near South Molton, to Tiverton and started again under the new name Russet Red.
The new business also collapsed, leaving new debts of £350,000, much of it to the taxman, Exeter Crown Court was told
Standen, aged 45, of Court Gardens, Stoodleigh, admitted two offences running a company when banned from being a director and was jailed for 16 months, suspended for two years, curfewed for six months, and ordered to pay £5,000 costs.
Judge Phillip Wassall told him he was only sparing him jail for the sake of his family and so he would not lose his new job working at a pub run by his grown-up son.
He told him:"You were plainly thoroughly dishonest in the way you went about this. It was as clear as a bell. Your dishonesty came shining through this case.
"You did this because you needed to keep working to get money and tried to get round the disqualification. It was akin to a serious contempt of court."
Miss Bathsheba Cassel, prosecuting, told an earlier hearing how Standen was banned for holding any directorship for 15 years after his previous business went bust, leaving large debts.
He adopted the identity of his brother but the deception was unmasked when official from the vehicle licensing authorities became suspicious and showed pictures of both brothers to people who were dealing with Standen.
Mr David Sapiecha, defending, said Standen is now working at a pub run by his son and is struggling to care for his wife and ten-year-old son.
He has sold his home to help pay off his creditors but is renting it back and is very short of money.
He said:"This is not a case where these matters are compounded by other offences such as fraudulent trading. It was a situation where it was is work and his business and he was trying to keep things going.
"He was trying to keep going to pay for his family and to pay off other debts that built up."
