DURING the Angel Coatings' director's fraud trial, the court heard how Simon Regan became 'overwhelmed' and admitted ‘fobbing off’ customers – but that he himself had been 'fobbed off' by his supplier.

Mr Regan, of Bradfield Road, Barrows Green, Crewe, is on trial at Southampton Crown Court this week.

The 57-year-old denies three counts of fraudulent trading, between September 9, 2014, and March 14, 2021.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the court heard how the businessman had gambled away nearly £200,000.

In summing up the case, Judge Brian Forster went over the evidence of Mr Regan.

He said he joined the army in 1981, and left after 17 years of service, during which time he experienced many difficult situations and was diagnosed with PTSD.

After the army, he went on to work in exterior coatings, going on to set up Angel Coatings, based in Exeter.

The court heard he was sold a dream, and a trial run on the Isle of Wight started in 2015.

Mr Regan said he chose an Isle of Wight business address because people liked to deal with local companies, and the promotional material was based upon the manufacturer’s descriptions and claims.

The court heard the business took off; the name change reflecting the company’s move into resin drives.

Mr Regan told members of the jury all material costs had to be considered when it came to any costing, and he denied overcharging customers.

He said, when a job had been carried out, it looked amazing, and this generated additional interest.

But the number of remedials began to mount up and the business became chaotic.

Mr Regan said he did carry out remedials, and planned to have them all completed, but Covid struck.

He accepted “fobbing off” customers but said he himself had been “fobbed off” by his supplier.

The court heard Mr Regan’s wife became unwell and died, and he turned to gambling as an escape.

Asked what went wrong, Mr Regan said he became overwhelmed, but he always had a never-give-up attitude.

The court heard, after the company dissolved, Mr Regan started a new company with the intention to complete the remedials.

He said he never hoped people would just go away, and denied being dishonest.

He told members of the jury the account simply became such that it swallowed up any money coming in.

He accepted making threats and acting inappropriately, and said his denial about owning a house may have been a way of protecting his wife.

In showing members of the jury a collection of photographs, Judge Forster said Mr Regan wished to demonstrate the success of many of his jobs which were carried out to a good standard.

The trial continues.