Michelle Mone, once known for her opulent lifestyle, exotic holidays, and self-promotion, now faces intense scrutiny following a damning High Court judgment. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mone publicly lauded NHS frontline workers, yet this sentiment stands in stark contrast to the recent findings concerning her involvement in a £122 million government contract for surgical gowns.

Mrs Justice Cockerill's 87-page judgment details how Mone acted as the “big gun” for her husband Doug Barrowman’s firm, PPE Medpro, pressuring government officials to finalize a deal for surgical gowns sourced from China. The crucial requirement was for these products to be completely sterile, a standard essential for use in a pandemic-era hospital setting. However, when civil servants raised concerns about inadequate certification, Mone intervened, arguing that the Department for Health and Social Care had a “legal moral obligation” to proceed with the deal, even threatening escalation if her demands were not met. Ultimately, tests revealed that 103 out of 140 sample gowns failed sterility checks, rendering them “unfit for purpose” and unusable in the NHS or elsewhere.

This extravagant lifestyle, encompassing six homes, 15 cars including Ferraris, a private jet, and a £10 million yacht named ‘Lady M,’ is now understood to have been significantly funded by the profits from PPE Medpro. The judgment highlights the grotesque nature of such extravagance, especially when contrasted with the risks posed to public health and the safety of NHS workers by the non-sterile gowns.

Mone’s response to the scandal has been characterized by persistent dishonesty. When reporters began investigating PPE Medpro, she engaged multiple law firms to intimidate news outlets, falsely claiming she had “no involvement” in the firm and threatening legal action. Her lawyer, Jonathan Coad, initially insisted she was “not connected in any way with PPE Medpro,” but has since offered an “unqualified apology” for spreading falsehoods. Mone herself downplayed her deceit in a 2023 BBC interview, stating that lying to the press is “not a crime” and was done to “protect my family.”

This pattern of fabrication is not new for Mone. Her past as the boss of lingerie firm Ultimo was marked by similar instances of embellishment, such as falsely claiming Julia Roberts wore one of their bras in ‘Erin Brockovich’ and exaggerating model Penny Lancaster’s contract fee. The financial success of Ultimo was often overinflated in glossy magazines, with actual profits and shareholder funds significantly lower than reported figures. Her tumultuous divorce from Michael, which included admitted acts of vandalism and putting laxatives in his coffee, further paints a picture of a volatile personal life.

Despite this history, David Cameron elevated Mone to the House of Lords in 2015, a move that earned her the nickname “Baroness Bra” and astonished the Scottish business community. Critics, such as Donald Anderson of Gap Group, questioned her credentials, asserting she was a “small time businesswoman with a PR exposure far in excess of any actual success.” Mone’s maiden speech in the Lords, detailing a supposedly impoverished childhood, also raised eyebrows due to its questionable accuracy.

Her financial situation dramatically improved after meeting multi-millionaire businessman Doug Barrowman in 2016. Barrowman, a serial entrepreneur whose Knox Group once claimed assets of over £1.35 billion, had his own controversies, including flawed tax schemes that financially ruined many middle-class workers and led to client suicides. Together, Mone and Barrowman pursued other ill-fated ventures, including a ‘cancelled’ Dubai property development and a failed cryptocurrency launch, where Mone proclaimed herself an “expert” despite the project flopping.

The financial aftermath of the PPE Medpro scandal is severe. The High Court has ordered PPE Medpro to repay £122 million by October 15, but the firm has since filed for administration, with net assets of only £666,025 after extensive legal defense costs. Government lawyers may pursue Barrowman and Mone directly to recoup the missing funds, as Barrowman extracted approximately £65 million from the firm’s profits, transferring £29 million to a trust for Mone and her children. Additionally, £75 million of the couple’s assets are currently frozen under a court order obtained by the Crown Prosecution Service, linked to a National Crime Agency investigation into suspected criminal offenses related to PPE supply. This freezing order covers properties and bank accounts but applies only to potential criminal litigation, not the civil claim for the £122 million debt.

Despite the overwhelming evidence and legal judgments, Barrowman and Mone continue to deny allegations of criminality, insisting the High Court judgment is a “travesty of justice.” Their defiant stance suggests ongoing legal battles, guaranteeing continued work for their lawyers as this ugly tale unfolds.