Joey Essex might be in trouble with the authorities (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
Joey Essex could be facing criminal prosecution after his company failed to file accounts for the past four years.
The reality star is best known for starring on The Only Way is Essex, going on to appear on Celebrity Ex on the Beach, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Dancing on Ice.
He is currently appearing on the latest season of Love Island, which is being filmed in South Africa.
However, while Joey is on the hunt for love, things at home aren’t so rosy following reports he might be in trouble with authorities for the alleged mismanagement of his company, Joey Essex Management Ltd.
The 33-year-old’s firm is at threat of being struck off after failing to file accounts for several years now.
It is a criminal offence not to file accounts on time, which is usually nine months after the end of a business’ financial year.
His company has failed to file accounts for the past four years (Picture: Joseph Okpako/WireImage)
Joey Essex Management, which lists Joey as sole director and overall control, last accounts were made up to June 2018 and, according to Companies House records, its accounts are well overdue.
It should have posted 2019 accounts by March 2020 – which means they are now four years and three months late.
The accounts for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 have not been filed either.
The Sun has reported that his accountants are ‘satisfied everything is in order’ and reported that six years ago, the company had £458,788 in reserves.
However, the law states that a director can be personally fined and have a criminal record for not filing accounts on time.
He could now be facing criminal prosecution(Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
For not filing in the first year, the penalty is £1,500, with the amount doubling the following year and then carrying on increasing each year after that.
If the offending firm persists, it can be struck off and the director could be disqualified.
The government website warns that not filing confirmation statements, annual returns or accounts ‘is a criminal offence and directors or LLP designated members could be personally fined in the criminal courts’.
‘Failing to pay your late filing penalty can result in enforcement proceedings.’
In the past few years Joey has also set up two other companies – The Top TT Ltd and Fusey Productions Ltd in September and October 2023 respectively.
This month Joey became the first ever celebrity bombshell on the long-running ITV dating series, however many people watching on at home made it clear they weren’t thrilled to see him arrive in the villa.
The reality star is currently appearing on Love Island (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
However, Joey said that he believed he was hopeful he could find love there.
‘I’m extremely single right now, so I’m praying that I’m going to walk out of the villa hand in hand with the love of my life, that’s my main aim and all I care about,’ he said.
‘It’s difficult for me to meet girls on the outside as they judge me based on a persona so I think this experience will allow for people to see the real me.’
He added: ‘I just want someone to like me for me and now from what they see on TV.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Joey Essex for comment.
Love Island continues at 9pm tonight on ITV2.
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