Barred security director to be sentenced at crown court and accomplice sentenced for working without a licence

October 16, 2017

On 12 October 2017, at Caernarfon Magistrates Court, Mark Pursglove was referred to the crown court to be sentenced for working without an SIA licence. Rachel Williams was sentenced for aiding and abetting offences. This sentencing follows the prosecution of Mark Pursglove and Rachel Williams on 14 September 2017.

Mark Pursglove was prosecuted in 2016 because he had supplied unlicensed security operatives. Once his company was found guilty, Mark Pursglove continued to act as a director despite being unlicensed and positioned Rachel Williams as the frontwoman of the business to conceal this fact.

SIA investigators investigated this further and based on intelligence built a case against Mark Pursglove and Rachel Williams. In this previous hearing, they were then found guilty at Llandudno Magistrates Court on 14 September.

In the latest hearing, the SIA made an application for the sentencing of Mark Pursglove to be committed to the Crown Court in order to pursue the confiscation of assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002). As a result, the sentencing of Pursglove has been adjourned till November at Caernarfon Crown Court.

Rachel Williams was sentenced and received a community order of 150 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within the next 12 months. She was also ordered to pay £3,500 in costs and a victim surcharge of £85.

Nathan Salmon, the Head of SIA Criminal Investigations, said: “The SIA will always determine who is actually responsible for committing an offence. Those guilty of offences cannot hide behind others. Using Rachel Williams to front his businesses did not protect Mark Pursglove from prosecution

This strong conviction highlights that security regulation exists in order to protect those who use contracted security services and the general public, and ensure, the effectiveness of security businesses that operate within the industry.”