Bankruptcy extended for former kennels owner who hid assets

The former owner of kennels where animals were removed over welfare concerns has had her bankruptcy restrictions extended after failing to disclose property she owned.

Jodie Fairbrother, from from Immingham, North Lincolnshire, was the former owner of a boarding kennels in South Killingholme. The business traded from Janika Boarding Kennels under the name 4Paws and provided animal transport, boarding kennels and a veterinary clinic.

In March 2018, 4Paws was subject to visits from the RSPCA and the police over animal welfare concerns. Over 100 animals were removed and Fairbrother later closed the business before applying for bankruptcy in November 2018.

Having been previously bankrupt in 2005, Fairbrother would have been aware that she was required to inform the Official Receiver about any assets she owned, including property. However, she failed to declare that she jointly owned the boarding kennels 4Paws had been trading from.

Following a tip-off, the Official Receiver later confirmed that Fairbrother jointly owned the property. But throughout the investigation, the former business-owner denied she was the property’s owner and claimed instead she was a tenant even after being shown copies of the land registry.

Further investigations discovered that a month before she applied to be bankrupt, Fairbrother sold her stake in the property in October 2018 and had received thousands of pounds in return.

The Secretary of State has since accepted a bankruptcy restrictions’ undertaking from Fairbrother where she voluntarily accepted she failed to declare the property owned to the Official Receiver.

The bankruptcy restrictions, effective from 28 March 2019, last for seven years and prohibit Fairbrother from several activities, including acting as a director of a company without permission from the court and attempting to borrow more than £500 without declaring restrictions they are subject to.

Gerard O’Hare, official receiver, said: “This case has seen a litany of offences carried out by Jodie Fairbrother and then she thought she could hide assets preventing her creditors from receiving the money they are rightfully owed.

“Seven years of extended bankruptcy restrictions is a significant ban and not only seriously confines Jodie Fairbrother’s conduct going forward but should also act as a warning to those who attempt to defraud their creditors by hiding their assets.”

Fairbrother also used to run the the Second Chance Animal Rescue in Black Lane, Chellaston.