On Monday 11 March, Michael Ryan pled guilty at Coventry Magistrates’ Court to working as an unlicensed security manager on three occasions between 21 April and 28 September 2018. Mr Ryan was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £4,264 costs as well as a victim surcharge of £170 within 14 days.
On 20 April 2018 Michael Ryan lost his door supervisor’s licence after his security business IG Security Services Ltd was prosecuted by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). The following day it was business as usual for him as he started procuring security work and contracts despite not having a licence.
Pete Easterbrook, SIA Investigations Manager, said:
“Michael Ryan, also known as Mick Ryan, has re-offended with no regard for the restrictions placed on him operating in the private security industry. He has showed utter contempt for the licensing regime and for the Private Security Industry Act.
He wilfully ignored his 2018 conviction and the loss of his licence, a matter which the SIA could not ignore. Regulation of the private security industry exists in order to protect those who use the services of a security provider, as well as the general public. The significant penalties imposed by the court today are a reflection of the high expectations of those who operate in the industry, and the repercussions should they choose to commit offences.”
In May 2018, Michael Ryan set up a security company called Viking Security and Medic Services Ltd, naming his wife as the director. She was unaware of this and ceased being the director in August 2018.
SIA investigators soon became aware of the existence of the company following social media posts by Michael Ryan on behalf of Viking Security and Medic Services Ltd. This prompted an investigation by the SIA, and it was evident that Mick Ryan was the controlling mind of the business.
The door supervisors he supplied, who were correctly licensed, worked at Bedworth Party in the Park festival in Warwickshire, Wolston Quarry, and Coventry’s Centre AT7.