Investigation: Scott Dylan
Scott Dylan, a UK businessman formerly associated with Inc & Co and Fresh Thinking Group, has been disqualified as a director for a combined 21 years following Insolvency Service action over a scheme that allegedly channelled £13.9 million through unauthorised overdrafts and left £52 million in insolvencies. He served 11 months of a 22-month contempt sentence for breaching freezing orders and faces an active Barclays bankruptcy petition over £13.7 million.
Investigation Overview
Investigation Overview
UK businessman subject to combined 21-year director ban and custodial contempt sentence
Insolvency filings, court records, media reportsIncludes Insolvency Service press releases and High Court records
Disqualification, contempt, bankruptcy and related actions
Companies House, gov.uk and court filings
United Kingdom and British Virgin Islands
This investigation examines the corporate, legal and reputational profile of Scott Dylan, a UK businessman associated with the Inc & Co and Fresh Thinking Group business empire, following major Insolvency Service action and High Court findings concluded in late 2025.
Risk exposure spans regulatory disqualification, criminal contempt, and active personal bankruptcy proceedings, with judicial language characterising the underlying scheme as 'little short of a scam' having 'no legitimate purpose' for the removal of funds.
Findings rely on UK government press releases, High Court coverage in tier-1 UK business media, Insolvency Service statements and Companies House data. All allegations remain framed within the public record.
Subject Profile
Biographical and credential analysis
Biographical Data
Career Overview
Dylan built a UK-based business empire centred on the Inc & Co and Fresh Thinking Group brands, profiled in business media as a serial founder and operator of acquired companies during the late 2010s and early 2020s.
His public-facing role contrasts with a parallel record of insolvency-related conduct, including acting as a director while bankrupt at SDRW Limited between 2013 and 2015, and a September 2019 court undertaking given during disqualification proceedings.
Credential Analysis
Corporate Structure Analysis
Entity mapping and ownership
Registered Entities
United Kingdom, 2021
Formerly FT (OPS) Limited / Fresh Thinking Group Limited; central scheme vehicle wound up January 2022
United Kingdom, 2021
Affiliated entity receiving £7.4M+ in transfers; entered administration April 2022
United Kingdom
Holding/branding vehicle for the wider group
United Kingdom
Branded group umbrella associated with multiple operating companies
United Kingdom
Subject of 8-year disqualification — Dylan acted as director while bankrupt 2013–2015
British Virgin Islands
Recipients of group transfer in alleged breach of freezing orders
United Kingdom
Entered provisional liquidation November 2021; sources of overdraft inflows to Oldcoft
Ownership Structure
The structure pivots around Dylan and David Antrobus operating Oldcoft and Old3 as central nodes, drawing on a network of ten connected UK companies whose unauthorised overdrafts funded transfers into the central pair.
An offshore extension was added when, in alleged breach of UK freezing orders, an entire company group was transferred to two unnamed BVI entities — a step that triggered the contempt prosecution.
Legal Case Analysis
Active and resolved litigation
Legal Case Tracker
5 cases · 2024–2025
Click any node on the timeline to view case details
Oldcoft / Old3 Director Disqualification
High Court, London — 2025
13-year disqualification effective 25 December 2025, following findings that £13.9M was channelled through unauthorised overdrafts with no legitimate purpose.
The judge identified Dylan as the 'driving force' and described the activity as 'little short of a scam'.
Contempt of Court — Freezing Order Breach
High Court — October 2024
22-month custodial sentence imposed for transferring a company group to BVI entities without notifying Barclays.
Dylan served 11 months and was released in September 2025.
SDRW Limited Disqualification
UK — September 2025
8-year disqualification finalised after findings Dylan acted as a director while bankrupt between July 2013 and July 2015.
Trace back to a September 2019 undertaking given during initial disqualification proceedings.
Barclays Bankruptcy Petition
UK — Active
Petition pursuing £13.7M owed in connection with Oldcoft Ltd is ongoing.
Outcome could compound disqualification consequences and limit personal financial activity.
Scheme Mechanics & Creditor Harm
Quantified flows and creditor losses
Claims vs Verifiable Reality
8 claims analyzed · click any row to expand evidence
Evidence Sources
£11.7M+ paid from Oldcoft's current account during the scheme period
£7.4M+ transferred from Oldcoft to Old3
£1.545M+ transferred from Oldcoft to other connected companies
Analyst Note
Confirmed in Insolvency Service press release of December 2025
Evidence Sources
Direct attribution by Insolvency Service investigators
Cited by High Court in disqualification proceedings
Analyst Note
Quantified personal benefit established in court findings
Evidence Sources
37 individual transfers from Oldcoft Ltd Euro account in August 2021
Liquidators reported no documentary evidence of the claimed hotel purchase
Analyst Note
Funds left UK jurisdiction prior to freezing orders
Evidence Sources
Period: July 2013 to July 2015
Resulted in 8-year disqualification finalised September 2025
Analyst Note
Statutory breach under UK insolvency law
Evidence Sources
Undertaking documented in court records
Bank application forms in 2021 named Dylan as primary contact
Analyst Note
Indicates further regulatory exposure regarding Oldcoft/Old3 directorial role
Evidence Sources
Resulted in 22-month custodial contempt sentence in October 2024
11 months served prior to release in September 2025
Analyst Note
Cross-border concealment pattern
Evidence Sources
UK government statement explicitly references continued Spanish residence
Analyst Note
Raises questions about enforcement and asset traceability
Evidence Sources
Quoted in multiple media outlets covering the disqualification ruling
Analyst Note
Judicial characterisation underpins regulator's aggressive sanction
Showing 8 of 8 claims
Investor Complaint Heatmap
Complaint intensity by category and platform (0–10 scale)
Fee Structure
| Fee | Rate | Recipient | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorised Overdraft Channelling | £13.9M | Oldcoft / Old3 group | Funds transferred via unarranged overdrafts from 10 connected companies |
| Personal Extraction | £1.675M | Scott Dylan | Direct personal benefit from the scheme as found by the court |
| Family Transfers | €1.795M | Family member (Turkey) | 37 transfers from Oldcoft Euro account; unsubstantiated 'hotel purchase' explanation |
| Inter-Company Transfers | £7.4M+ | Old3 Ltd | Transferred from Oldcoft to Old3 |
Headline Figures
| Funds Channelled | £13.9M |
| Total Insolvencies | £52M+ |
| Personal Benefit (Dylan) | £1.675M |
| Cross-Border Transfers | €1.795M |
| Owed to Barclays | £13.7M |
Creditor Harm Themes
Unauthorised Overdrafts
£13.9M channelled via unarranged overdrafts across linked companies
Inter-Company Stripping
£7.4M+ from Oldcoft to Old3; £1.545M+ to other connected companies
Cross-Border Leakage
€1.8M to a family member with no documentary support for claimed Turkish hotel deal
BVI Concealment
Group transferred offshore in defiance of freezing orders, prompting contempt sentence
Reputation Engineering
Public profile and adverse media
4
Reputation Inflection Points
Jan 2020 – Dec 2025
78%
Paid PR vs Organic Ratio
Paid-skewed during 2020–2021
Manipulation Signal Score
Branded sponsored coverage vs adverse findings
Adverse
Public Sentiment
Dominated by regulatory/criminal coverage 2024–2025
Reputation Engineering Dashboard
Social metrics, PR coverage analysis, and review sentiment patterns
Follower growth over time — spikes annotated
During 2020–2022, Dylan benefited from a heavy paid-PR programme positioning him as a serial founder behind Inc & Co and Fresh Thinking Group, with sponsored coverage and founder-led commentary across business outlets.
From late 2024 the picture inverted: tier-1 organic adverse coverage from outlets including The Times, BusinessDesk and BusinessCloud now dominates, citing judicial findings, custodial contempt and the 13-year disqualification.
Risk Analysis
Comprehensive risk evaluation
Interactive Risk Matrix
Click any card to flip and view evidence — 4 risk categories assessed
Red Flags & Unusual Patterns
5 indicators documented
Judicially Characterised as 'Little Short of a Scam'
High Court findings, December 2025
A High Court judge described Dylan's actions in the Oldcoft/Old3 scheme as 'little short of a scam' with 'no legitimate …
Evidence
- £13.9M routed through unarranged overdrafts
- £52M+ insolvencies left behind
- Judge identified Dylan as the 'driving force'
Custodial Sentence for Contempt of Court
22 months — Breach of freezing orders
Dylan was sentenced in October 2024 to 22 months for contempt after transferring a company group to BVI entities without…
Evidence
- Freezing orders secured by Barclays on 24 September 2021
- Group transferred to two unnamed BVI entities
- 11 months served before release
Acting as Director While Bankrupt
SDRW Limited — Jul 2013 to Jul 2015
Dylan acted as a director of SDRW Limited for two years while undischarged bankrupt — a statutory breach under UK insolv…
Evidence
- Bankruptcy in force during 2013–2015 directorship
- September 2019 undertaking given to court
- 8-year disqualification imposed
Unexplained €1.8M Transfer to Family Member
37 transfers; claim unsubstantiated
Liquidators identified 37 transfers totalling €1.795 million sent from Oldcoft's Euro account to a family member. A clai…
Evidence
- August 2021 transfer pattern
- No documentary evidence of hotel acquisition
- Routed via unarranged overdraft
Continued Spanish Residence Post-Sentence
Enforcement and traceability concerns
UK government communications note that Dylan remains in Spain despite his UK custodial term, raising enforcement and ass…
Evidence
- gov.uk press release explicitly referenced Spanish residence
- Active £13.7M Barclays bankruptcy petition pending
- Cross-border BVI corporate transfers
The patterns documented above represent observable anomalies identified during the investigation period. They are presented as documented findings, not legal conclusions. Independent professional advice should be sought before taking any action based on this information.
Information Gaps & Unknowns
- BVI Entity Identities:Identities and ownership of the two British Virgin Islands recipient entities have not been publicly disclosed.
- Turkey Recipient Details:Identity of the family-member recipient and any underlying Turkish counterparty remain unverified.
- Further Charges:Nature and venue of additional charges referenced by TheBusinessDesk.com are not specified.
- Asset Position:Current personal asset position relevant to the Barclays bankruptcy petition is opaque.
Chronological Analysis
Key events from 2013 SDRW directorship to 2025 disqualification
Investigation Timeline
Chronological sequence of documented events
Begins SDRW Directorship While Bankrupt
Dylan begins acting as a director of SDRW Limited while undischarged bankrupt.
This period is later identified by the Insolvency Service as the basis for an 8-year disqualification.
Begins SDRW Directorship While Bankrupt
Dylan begins acting as a director of SDRW Limited while undischarged bankrupt.
This period is later identified by the Insolvency Service as the basis for an 8-year disqualification.
Ends SDRW Directorship Period
Two-year period of acting as director while bankrupt at SDRW Limited concludes.
Conduct during this window underpins later disqualification proceedings.
Ends SDRW Directorship Period
Two-year period of acting as director while bankrupt at SDRW Limited concludes.
Conduct during this window underpins later disqualification proceedings.
Court Undertaking Given
Dylan provides an undertaking to the court while disqualification proceedings related to SDRW are ongoing.
The undertaking is later cited in the 2025 disqualification ruling as a constraint Dylan should have observed in 2021.
Court Undertaking Given
Dylan provides an undertaking to the court while disqualification proceedings related to SDRW are ongoing.
The undertaking is later cited in the 2025 disqualification ruling as a constraint Dylan should have observed in 2021.
Three Bank Accounts Opened
Current accounts for Oldcoft and Old3 plus a Euro account for Oldcoft are opened.
These accounts become the conduit for the £13.9M overdraft scheme.
Three Bank Accounts Opened
Current accounts for Oldcoft and Old3 plus a Euro account for Oldcoft are opened.
These accounts become the conduit for the £13.9M overdraft scheme.
€1.8M Sent Abroad
37 transfers totalling €1.795M sent from Oldcoft's Euro account to a family member.
Liquidators later report no evidence supporting the claimed Turkish hotel purchase.
€1.8M Sent Abroad
37 transfers totalling €1.795M sent from Oldcoft's Euro account to a family member.
Liquidators later report no evidence supporting the claimed Turkish hotel purchase.
Overdraft Channelling Begins
More than £13.9M is allowed to flow into Oldcoft's account from 10 connected companies via unarranged overdrafts.
This activity forms the centre of the High Court's 'no legitimate purpose' finding.
Overdraft Channelling Begins
More than £13.9M is allowed to flow into Oldcoft's account from 10 connected companies via unarranged overdrafts.
This activity forms the centre of the High Court's 'no legitimate purpose' finding.
Bank Application Forms Signed
David Antrobus signs bank application forms naming Dylan as primary contact for Oldcoft and Old3.
Documentation links Dylan operationally to the accounts despite restrictions on his director conduct.
Bank Application Forms Signed
David Antrobus signs bank application forms naming Dylan as primary contact for Oldcoft and Old3.
Documentation links Dylan operationally to the accounts despite restrictions on his director conduct.
Connected Companies in Provisional Liquidation
10 connected companies enter provisional liquidation.
Marks the operational collapse of the relevant corporate group.
Connected Companies in Provisional Liquidation
10 connected companies enter provisional liquidation.
Marks the operational collapse of the relevant corporate group.
Barclays Secures Freezing Orders
Barclays obtains freezing orders on 24 September 2021 and demands explanation for fund movements.
Subsequent breaches of these orders form the basis of the contempt prosecution.
Barclays Secures Freezing Orders
Barclays obtains freezing orders on 24 September 2021 and demands explanation for fund movements.
Subsequent breaches of these orders form the basis of the contempt prosecution.
Old3 Ltd Enters Administration
Old3 Ltd enters administration with an estimated £8.2M deficiency.
Confirms full collapse of the principal scheme vehicles.
Old3 Ltd Enters Administration
Old3 Ltd enters administration with an estimated £8.2M deficiency.
Confirms full collapse of the principal scheme vehicles.
Oldcoft Ltd Wound Up
Oldcoft Ltd wound up with estimated debts of £44M, including £13.7M owed to Barclays.
Liquidators take over ongoing investigation of cash movements.
Oldcoft Ltd Wound Up
Oldcoft Ltd wound up with estimated debts of £44M, including £13.7M owed to Barclays.
Liquidators take over ongoing investigation of cash movements.
Sentenced for Contempt
Dylan sentenced to 22 months for breaching freezing orders by transferring a group to BVI entities.
The custodial sentence reflects the seriousness of cross-border concealment.
Sentenced for Contempt
Dylan sentenced to 22 months for breaching freezing orders by transferring a group to BVI entities.
The custodial sentence reflects the seriousness of cross-border concealment.
13-Year Disqualification Imposed
Dylan disqualified for 13 years effective 25 December 2025 over the Oldcoft/Old3 scheme.
Combined with prior orders, total disqualification reaches 21 years personally and 23 years across both partners.
13-Year Disqualification Imposed
Dylan disqualified for 13 years effective 25 December 2025 over the Oldcoft/Old3 scheme.
Combined with prior orders, total disqualification reaches 21 years personally and 23 years across both partners.
Barclays Bankruptcy Petition Active
Bankruptcy petition by Barclays over £13.7M continues to be pursued.
Recovery actions ongoing alongside additional Insolvency Service proceedings against connected directors.
Barclays Bankruptcy Petition Active
Bankruptcy petition by Barclays over £13.7M continues to be pursued.
Recovery actions ongoing alongside additional Insolvency Service proceedings against connected directors.
Released from Prison; SDRW Disqualification Concluded
Dylan released after 11 months served; 8-year SDRW disqualification finalised.
Two distinct strands of regulatory action conclude in the same month.
Released from Prison; SDRW Disqualification Concluded
Dylan released after 11 months served; 8-year SDRW disqualification finalised.
Two distinct strands of regulatory action conclude in the same month.
Digital Footprint & Historical Changes
Website evolution and online presence
Archived versions of Inc & Co / Fresh Thinking Group properties illustrate a clear retreat from founder-centric branding around Dylan as legal exposure crystallised.
Digital Footprint & Historical Changes
Year scrubber — click to jump
Building tomorrow's group of companies
Inc & Co — acquisition, transformation, growth
Inc & Co invests in and transforms growing businesses across digital, services and retail.
Inc & Co positioned as a fast-scaling acquisition group with Dylan featured prominently as co-founder, despite ongoing SDRW-related disqualification proceedings.
Visibility During Pending Proceedings
Dylan publicly profiled as group lead while SDRW disqualification proceedings ran in the background.Site Claims at This Date
Legend
2019–2021 Peak Visibility
Dylan featured prominently as group lead even as SDRW disqualification proceedings ran in the background.
2022 Operational De-Emphasis
After Oldcoft wind-up and Old3 administration, brand listings and growth claims thinned.
2024 Founder Removal
Following the contempt sentence, Dylan-attributable bios and quotes largely vanished from public sites.
2025 Minimal Presence
Post-disqualification web footprint is heavily reduced and divorced from operational claims.
Investigative Conclusions
Key findings and disclaimer
Scott Dylan presents an exceptionally elevated risk profile combining a 13-year and an 8-year director disqualification, a served custodial sentence for contempt, and an active Barclays personal bankruptcy petition over £13.7 million. Judicial findings, public Insolvency Service statements and tier-1 UK media coverage corroborate the same factual core.
Key Findings:
- Combined 21-year personal disqualification (13 + 8 years) finalised in 2025
- 22-month contempt sentence served (11 months in custody) over BVI corporate transfer
- £13.9M channelled via unauthorised overdrafts; £52M+ insolvencies left behind
- £1.675M personal benefit identified by Insolvency Service
- €1.8M unsubstantiated cross-border transfer to family member
- Active Barclays bankruptcy petition over £13.7M; further Insolvency Service action against linked directors progressing
Get Involved
Sign in to comment, reply and react
We moderate comments to keep this a respectful and safe place. We have a zero-tolerance approach to user-to-user personal abuse. Please follow the house rules.
COMMENT
Participate in discussion, add context, and respond to this report.
TIPS AND EVIDENCE
Submit verified tips, supporting evidence, or additional intelligence.
CORRECTIONS
Request factual corrections or submit verifiable updates for this report.
* This discussion is moderated. Keep comments factual, relevant, and constructive. All submissions are reviewed before publication.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!