A boss who abused a bounce back loan intended to aid businesses through coronavirus was banned from running businesses for more than a decade.

Behnoush Sharifipour was a director of Behn Food Limited, a food business based on Lee Lane, Horwich, until it was dissolved a little over two years ago.

In May 2020, according to the Insolvency Service, Ms Sharifipour applied for a bounce back loan of £50,000, although Behn Food Limited was not eligible for this amount based on its estimated annual turnover.

The application stated an estimated annual turnover of more than £200,000, whereas the bank statements suggested this was more in the region of £85,000.

As a result, Ms Sharifipour received more than double the bounce back loan to which she was entitled.

To make matters worse, the Insolvency Service said, she used the sum for personal purposes instead of the benefit of the food business, and she showed no intention to make repayments. This was against the terms.

The food business was dissolved a little over two years ago and the £50,000 is outstanding to this day.

After an investigation by the Insolvency Service, Ms Sharifipour was banned from running businesses for more than a decade starting this month.

A breach of the ban, which applies to companies in the UK or companies with links to the UK, can lead to a fine or imprisonment for up two years.