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Monday 5 January 2015

Barry Gamble (The London Vines Ltd): judgment in default – £741,647.45




The London Vines Ltd 
Today I received a copy of the liquidator's progress report on the first 12 months of the liquidation of The London Vines Ltd, a 'wine investment' company, where the shareholders did rather better than their clients. The report was prepared by Alisdair Finlay, the liquidator and covers 31st October 2013 to 30th October 2014.   

It certainly made interesting reading.

The headline story is that Barry Michael Gamble has been hit with a judgment in default to pay £741,647.45 related to the misfeasance claim brought by the liquidator. The judgment was given in the Birmingham District Registry. Barry Gamble was the sole director of The London Vines Ltd from 26th January 2010 to 9th April 2013.

Further details here:
'Settlement re Misfeasance Claim
Following analysis of the company bank statements for the period 1 February 2012 to the date of liquidation it was discovered that large sums of money had been paid to the shareholders and relatives of shareholders for which there were no records to substantiate the payments. Despite writing to each of the shareholders involved, none were able to provide satisfactory responses and as such I instructed solicitors to commence recovery proceedings. A claim was drafted against Barry Michael Gamble, Robert Scott Phillips, Amanda Sarah Gamble, Sylwia Phillips and David Phillips. A offer of £27,000 was made and accepted in respect of the claim against David Phillips in the sum of £33,776.

A settlement has been reached with Robert Phillips and Sylwia Phillips that a payment of £90,000 will be made by 16.00hrs on 19 January 2015. This settlement has been agreed based upon the available equity in the matrimonial property. This settlement is in respect of claims mad against Robert Phillips in the sum of £152,802 and Sylwia Phillips in the sum of £123,294. 

Barristers were instructed to give advice on the merits of obtaining an injunction against the assets of Barry Gamble. Searches on property websites showed that the matrimonial home was on the market for sale. Unfortunately no application for an injunction was made as Counsel weren't confident of success and an unsuccessful application could have resulted in a costs order against the liquidator for which he could have become personally liable.*

A judgment in default was obtained against Barry Gamble in the sum of £741,647.45. An application has been made to court to apply for a charging order against property held in the defendant names. We are still awaiting confirmation from the Court of Judgment in default against Amanda Gamble in the sum of £179,263.61. 

According to the progress report – 'It is possible that bankruptcy proceedings will be issued against Barry Gamble and Amanda Gamble.' 

Directors Loan Account 
Robert Phillips has agreed by way of consent to repay a Directors loan of £35,926 over a period of 71 months payable by 71 monthly instalments of £500 and one final instalment and one final instalment of £426. As at the date covered by this report £1200 had been collected.'   

Robert Phillips, who was appointed sole director of The London Vines Ltd on 9th April 2013, reported that: 'In addition due to a dispute between shareholders, the Director, Robert Phillips claimed that he was unable to access any of the client information from the computers held at the trading premises as the passwords had been changed by Barry Gamble.' 


--> *: Barry and Amanda Gamble's house at 6 Rowan Close, Banstead was sold on 16th September 2014 for £631,000. The house had been bought for £470,000 on 16th June 2009.             

35 comments:

  1. So has Mr Barry Gamble has done A runner to avoid paying anything or am I reading the report wrong ?

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  2. Anon. The Liquidator's report does not suggest that Mr Barry Gamble has done a runner. Clearly he and his wife have sold the house in Banstead. The liquidator may have a current address for him. I have an accommodation address in Hatton Garden, London for Barry Gamble.

    You will have noted the judgment in default against Barry Gamble would suggest that he did not defend the action against him.

    Barry Gamble has not been responding to requests for further information from the Insolvency Service who are investigating the conduct of the two directors of The London Vines Ltd – Barry Gamble and Robert Phillips.

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    Replies
    1. Weren't there two directors..?

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    2. Yes as stated above: Barry Gamble, who was followed Robert Phillips also known as James Morrison, who was a director of Henry Talbot Ltd.

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  3. Jim have you seen the directors of ds vintners in the mail on Sunday

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  4. Anon. Can you give me a publication date please?

    Many thanks

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  5. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-2914594/TONY-HETHERINGTON-Palmed-half-10-500-back.html Daily mail on Sunday

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  6. Anon Many thanks for this link.

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  7. could someone explain to me where these scammers buy the wholesale wine from in the first place.

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  8. Anon. It's bought from reputable merchants. Whether they should have moral objections to selling is quite another, although interesting, question.

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    1. but im thinking it must be a large wholesale merchant. the number of scam companies involved and the quantities of wine that must be stored in hmrc warehouses. could you give me an example of some of these merchants and i will dig around. im convinced this whole thing is a conspiracy with a small number of players.

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  9. Jim, money unfortunately will always talk louder then mere morals !

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  10. Hi Jim, any more news on Barry Gamble yet?

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  11. Anon. No recent news. Unfortunately the liquidators, Findlay James, dealing with The London Vines are most unhelpful.

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  12. Hi Jim still no new news on Barry Gamble then Jim

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  13. Anon. Correct no news of whether bankruptcy proceedings have been commenced against Barry and Amanda Gamble. If there are to be moves to ban the directors of The London Vines Ltd from acting as directors, this process will have to start before the end of October 2015. The Insolvency Service has 2 years from the date that a company goes bust to commence disqualification proceedings, so time is beginning to run out.

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  14. Jim, have not the creditors been in touch with yourself to ask why this liquidation is taking so long... It doesn't seem right to me somehow. And does any one know if the Gambles are still in the country?

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  15. Anon. No creditors have not been in touch. I'm not sure that this liquidation is particularly slow as the process often takes a considerable time. No idea whether Gamble is still in UK at the moment.

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  16. Replies
    1. Edited comment: Hi Guys
      Yes they are both in the UK
      Living in a large 5 bedroomed house in Tadworth

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  17. Well now we know where the Gambles are in the country, perhaps
    the liquadators can now get on and put them into bankruptcy !
    Looks like there living well as well.

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  18. Dear Jim,

    17th September @ Birmingham Court 11.00 the Gambles will be there trying to overturn the judgement to be set a side for the claim against them. Lets hope Findlay James know what there doing and the outcome is good for Gambles victoms. Perhaps Jim you may like to attend, with your camera and post the results.

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  19. Anon. Thank you. By 17th September I will be in the Loire to follow the 2015 vintage. I assume that this challenge will be in two parts – to overturn the default judgment due presumably to not attending the court – and then to show that the original case was unfounded. The liquidator's report of 17th December 2014 appears to show that the other defendants against whom the liquidator took action agreed settlements.

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  20. Jim,

    why has your other blog gone on Barry Gamble gone along with all the comments?

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  21. Anon. A good and fair question. A little patience please and I expect that it will be back up

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  22. Come on Jim,
    Dont keep us in suspenders. Why was the site taken down? And when will it be up again? Surely your followers have the right to know

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  23. Jim... now that Gamble has been made bankrupt have any money been collected from him. And has his wife been bankrupt as yet? Have any of Gambles victoms received any moneys as yet?
    Why is the other site not up as yet? Did someone put a request for the information to be removed? And who?
    sorry for all the questions

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    1. Anon. I assume by other site your mean the other post. As I have already explained this will be back up in an amended form and I have asked for your patience. I continue to do so.

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  24. Anon: Patience rewarded: http://investdrinks-blog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/barry-gamble-declared-bankrupt-croydon.html

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  25. the other director, "Sal" whose not mentioned on the books ran off to cyprus to avoid all of this back lash. Is there a pending investigation into him? Absolutely not.

    picking and choosing is not justice.

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    Replies
    1. Who is this Sal please? There were two directors of The London Vines Ltd and Sal does not appear to have been one of them.

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    2. Furthermore it is entirely correct that some individuals can be investigated even if some are outside the reach on the investigators. It is like saying that there should have been no proceeding against The Great Train Robbers until all had been caught. Obvious nonsense!

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    3. I gather Sal may well refer to Robert Phillips, whose nickname was apparently Salad. Phillips is believed to be currently in Poland. If anon's rather cryptic comment suggests that the other director of The London Vines Ltd is now under investigation this would be welcome news.

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