Strictly Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has been pictured for the first time since news broke that his firm failed to pay back a £50,000 Covid loan
Strictly’s Thomas Skinner has been pictured looking stressed with a parking ticket while getting a tan. It’s the first time he’s been seen since it was revealed his firm had failed to pay back a £50,000 Covid loan, despite bragging on social media about “cleaning up”.
Despite the scandal, Tom headed for a sun bed session in Essex after his Strictly Come Dancing debut last weekend. Wearing a casual vest, joggers and slippers, he could be seen parking his van and inspecting a yellow parking fine – another setback which follows his confession that he cheated on his wife right after they got married. The former Apprentice star looked stressed as he spoke on the phone.
The businessman made his Strictly debut over the weekend, being partnered with professional dancer Amy Dowden, leaving many of her supporters devastated.
And in more bad news, it was revealed yesterday that Tom’s Fluffy Pillow Company had failed to make any repayments on a Covid loan in the five years since he was given it.
Tom, who is the only director of the company, applied for the government scheme back in 2020.
But, according to The Mirror, there have been no records of it being paid back yet.
This comes despite the fact he claimed the Covid pandemic had been good for business.
The Fluffy Pillow Company’s social media page shows Tom delivering mattresses, beds and pillows during the pandemic.
Speaking about his other company, Bosh Beds, he said: “We was cleaning up. Everyone’s got loads of money. It was so easy.
“I put a post up, it would take £30,000 worth of orders.”
He went on: “I was riding a wave on the back of Covid… million-pound deals were the norm every couple of months. It was insane.”
Tom shifted to selling mattresses during the pandemic, saying he’d deliver them across the UK as it was deemed “essential”.
He said business was booming, adding: “We had no competition. And that is when I’m really starting to earn my money.”
Despite his apparent success, The Fluffy Pillow Company applied for the maximum government loan of £50,000.
The terms said any business which had suffered as a result of the Covid pandemic could apply.
He self-certified that his business has been making more than £200,000 a year previously.
And the rules meant he should have started paying back the £50,000 in 12 months, but no recorded payments have been made.
Accounts from 2021 and 2022 show the amount is still owed.
Companies House has issued four noticed to liquidate the company with outstanding debt.
Two were discontinued, though it is unclear why, and two were suspended because of an objection.
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