April 28, 2025
BY ESHERU KWEKU
An events company director has been a suspended sentence for COVID loan fraud, while Baroness Michelle Mone enjoys Spanish luxury funded by taxpayers afte PPE Medpro Scandal.
The sentencing of Buckinghamshire events company director William Blenkarn for COVID loan fraud has reignited public anger over the handling of pandemic-related financial crimes. Blenkarn, who fraudulently secured £100,000 in Bounce Back Loans, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Aylesbury Crown Court last week. Meanwhile, Baroness Michelle Mone, embroiled in a separate PPE fraud scandal, has been spotted a luxurious frolic in Spain, sparking accusations of double standards in justice.
Blenkarn, the owner of MJB Events Limited, exploited the government’s COVID support scheme by applying for two loans worth £50,000 each, despite rules limiting businesses to a single loan. He then transferred £41,000 to a newly established company, MJB Entertainment Group, leaving creditors of his original business short-changed. The court also ordered Blenkarn to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, but critics argue that the punishment does not reflect the severity of his actions. Blenkarn, formerly of London End, Beaconsfield, but now living in Spain, was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Aylesbury Crown Court on Thursday 24 April.
%20(1).jpg)
In stark contrast, Michelle Mone, whose company PPE Medpro is under investigation for allegedly supplying faulty personal protective equipment worth millions to the UK government, continues to live in opulence. Mone and her husband have had £75 million in assets frozen, including properties in Belgravia and the Isle of Man. Despite the ongoing probe, Mone has been photographed frolicking in the Spanish sun, fuelling public outrage over perceived leniency towards the wealthy and well-connected. The National Crime Agency’s investigation into Mone has also faced criticism for its slow progress, with no charges filed despite the probe being launched in 2021.
The comparisons between the two cases, leaves many questioning the fairness of the justice system. “Why is Blenkarn facing consequences while Mone frolics in Spain with millions of taxpayers’ money?”
The public remains sceptical about whether justice will be served equally. The contrasting fates of Blenkarn and Mone highlight the growing frustration over the handling of financial crimes during the pandemic and the broader issue of inequality in the justice system.
