Sparkie ‘applied for fake £132k Covid loan’

An electrician has appeared in court charged with fraudulently obtaining a £132,500 Covid loan.

Samuel Exall, 39, is accused of dishonestly making a false representation regarding a company called The Property Block and an application for the 2020 Future Fund scheme.

He is also accused of committing by acting as a director to investors when subject to a seven-year disqualification and acquiring criminal property.

Exall, of Bromley, south London, was joined in the dock by Alexander Hagan, 33 and Mark Munnelly, 41.

Hagan, of Ashford, Kent, is accused of fraudulently obtaining the bounceback loan and acquiring criminal property.

Munnelly, of Harpenden, Herts, faces one count of fraud by false representation in relation to the loan.

All three spoke to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

They indicated not guilty pleas to all charges and were granted unconditional bail ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 8 October.