South Yorks Security Bosses Guilty of Supplying Unlicensed Operatives

July 17, 2014

On Tuesday [15 July], at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court, two security company directors pleaded guilty to a total of 38 private security offences.

Using security company names Dragon Security Solutions and Goodfellas Nightspot Barnsley, the two directors supplied unlicensed security guards to unsuspecting customers in South Yorkshire over a nine month period.

The unlicensed security operatives were not trained or vetted, and could have posed a threat to the very customers they were supposed to be protecting.

Ian Lindsay, 48, of Market Street, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to: 3 charges of failing to provide information to the Security Industry Authority, 4 charges of working as an unlicensed security director, and 9 charges of supplying unlicensed security operatives.

Martyn Cook, 56, of Philip Avenue, Nuthall, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to: 4 charges of working as an unlicensed security director, and 9 charges of supplying unlicensed security operatives.

Both Lindsay and Cook pleaded guilty on behalf of their companies to: 9 charges of supplying unlicensed security operatives under Dragon Security Solutions Ltd and Goodfellas Nightspot Barnsley Ltd.

SIA Investigations Manager, Nathan Salmon, said:

“In August 2013 the SIA received intelligence to suggest Dragon Security was supplying unlicensed operatives to unsuspecting customers. When we sought information about Dragon Security it became clear that neither Lindsay nor Cook was licensed to run a security company.

“Dragon Security was dissolved, and another company, Goodfellas Nightspot Barnsley, run by Lindsay and Cook, continued to provide security operatives to Dragon Security’s customers.

“There was sufficient public interest in this case to prosecute the two individuals and the companies. The SIA has removed these two from the security industry, and protected unsuspecting security buyers from putting their businesses at risk with unlicensed security operatives.

“Lindsay and Cook’s failure to provide information to the SIA may have concealed wider offending. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with anyone, customer or employee, who has been involved with the companies since October 2013. Information can be passed to me either via the SIA website or anonymously via Crimestoppers.”

Sentencing of Lindsay and Cook will take place on 3 October 2014.