Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer used private detectives to find a financial adviser who owed him £232,000.
Shearer was owed the money from Kevin Neal.
Neal failed to make a High Court hearing about the money owed, claiming he was stranded at his Spanish home by an injured foot and Covid quarantine rule, the Mirror reports.
However the former NUFC striker hired PIs to find him.
And within days of the court case being adjourned, they produced snaps for the judge that reportedly showed the 62-year-old ex-insurance salesman loading up a car in Hertfordshire before driving off.
At a rescheduled hearing in October, Neal’s barrister conceded he “had in fact been in the UK at the material time” – and that he’d injured his foot in Watford.
A senior judge ruled an “incorrect factual scenario” had been put before the original hearing “by those acting for Mr Neal, no doubt on his instructions”.
Now Neal has been ordered to pay the ex-England striker the money he owed him, as well as £55,845 in court costs.
Shearer, 50, launched a £9million damages claim against Neal three years ago for “negligent” pensions and investment advice. He agreed a confidential settlement – but took him back to court over the £232,000.
Neal has now been referred to the High Court again for “failing to comply” with requests for financial documents. In 2018, he was banned from acting as company director for six years by the Insolvency Service.
His wife, Cheryl, was banned for four.
Kevin Neal Wealth Management, which advised Shearer, is now insolvent. Neal said: “It would not be appropriate to comment as there are ongoing legal proceedings.”
Shearer declined to comment.
