December 17th 2024.
A former star from the popular TV show Dragons' Den has recently been sentenced to two years in prison. This businesswoman, Nicola Fletcher, had previously received a £100,000 investment on the show from Duncan Bannatyne and Piers Linney for her high-visibility horse riding wear product. Her company, Equisafety Ltd, had even collaborated with renowned dressage Olympians such as Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester.
However, almost a decade later, Fletcher, now 49 years old, has found herself behind bars after being convicted of blackmail. This all began when a dispute arose between her and a former employee, Lorraine Davies. Davies had brought a case to the employment tribunal after a disagreement at the Badminton Horse Trials, which led to her leaving the company. As part of an out-of-court settlement, Fletcher was ordered to pay Davies £3,000 in costs, as well as an additional £3,000 in termination and bonus payments. She was also required to provide Davies with a positive reference.
But when Davies listed Fletcher as a referee for a job at a veterinary hospital, she received a letter from her former boss offering either "a reference full of lies" in exchange for the settlement money, or "a reference full of truth". Unfortunately, Davies did not respond and the job offer was rescinded after the hospital received a negative reference from Fletcher. This caused Davies to struggle in finding a new job for nine months and she eventually had to accept two part-time jobs on minimum wage, without a reference.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Davies described the "cruelty and malice" she had experienced at the hands of Fletcher. She also stated that her pursuit was "relentless and calculated" and that she had intended to cause the most harm possible. Davies emphasized the importance of being able to have a job and earn a living, calling it a basic human right that Fletcher had tried to take away from her. She also expressed that there was no excuse or justification for Fletcher's actions.
Fletcher's lawyer claimed that the initial negative reference was sent in a state of anger and grief, as she had recently lost her father. However, Fletcher eventually admitted to blackmailing Davies and was sentenced to two years in prison by Judge Michael Leeming. The judge pointed out that Fletcher's actions had not only affected Davies' career, but also her health, well-being, confidence, and family. As a result, Fletcher was also banned from contacting Davies.
In addition to her legal troubles, Fletcher had also been involved in a copyright claim against a rival company who she believed had copied her hi-vis horse riding waistcoat. However, the judge ruled that while the waistcoat may be more visually appealing than a typical builder's gear, it did not possess enough "artistic craftsmanship" to be protected from imitations.
Dragons' Den, the show that launched Fletcher's business, is currently available for streaming on BBC iPlayer. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, feel free to reach out to the entertainment team at The Agency by email or phone, or by visiting their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you.
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