Former Next and Morrisons chief Sir David Jones faces court charges

SIR DAVID Jones, the former executive chairman of collapsed retailer JJB Sports, has been charged with forgery and making misleading statements to the market, the Serious Fraud Office said today.

In a statement the SFO said Mr Jones, who lives in Ilkley, and is the former chief executive of clothes chain Next and deputy chairman of supermarket group Morrisons, had been charged at Leeds Magistrates Court with two offences of making a misleading statement and one “of using a false instrument”.

The offences relate to statements the company made to the London Stock Exchange in 2009.

His son, Stuart, 38, a former head of marketing at the Wigan-based chain who lives in Bingley, was charged with one offence of aiding and abetting Sir David’s use of a false instrument.

Both defendants were released on unconditional bail. Proceedings are to be transferred to a crown court for a hearing on April 19.

The SFO said the matter was separate to the criminal proceedings against former chief executive Chris Ronnie and JJB supplier David Patrick Ball. However, evidence was discovered during a review of material obtained in that enquiry.

Sir David, 70, joined JJB as a non-executive director in 2007 and became executive chairman in 2009. He stepped down for health reasons the following year.

The group went into administration in October, leaving debts of more than £150m and more than 2,200 people out of work.