Police end investigation into bridal shop closure

The shop closed suddenly in July

A businesswoman arrested in connection with the sudden closure of a Nottinghamshire bridal shop has been released as a police investigation has ended.

La Belle Boutique in Huthwaite Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, shut with customers saying they were informed via email on 21 July.

A spokesperson for Strong Anderson, an insolvency practitioner firm, told the BBC it had been instructed by La Belle Boutique to place it into liquidation.

The same month, Nottinghamshire Police said it was investigating multiple allegations of fraud.

A 36-year-old woman, the most recent operator of the business, was interviewed on suspicion of fraud by false representation and subsequently released on bail.

She has now been released and “eliminated as a suspect” said the force.

A force spokesperson added the police investigation was closed at present.

Some customers told the BBC the closure had left them out of pocket

The spokesperson added: “We are aware that a number of orders were placed with La Belle Boutique and that these orders were not passed on to the relevant supplier or were passed on but not paid for by the business.

"These instances have occurred prior to the latest operator taking charge of the business.

“We would like to stress that a number of specific allegations have been made in good faith against the latest operator, both on social media and to the police, but that these allegations have since been proven to be incorrect based on evidence obtained during the investigation.”

Out of pocket

Strong Anderson is leading the investigation of the actions of the business and the circumstances surrounding the closure.

It will report poor business practice to the Insolvency Service and any fraud to the relevant authorities.

Customers previously told the BBC they were unable to access the dresses they had paid for, and were left out of pocket, some by four-figure sums.

This included Kelly Lee, 39, from Sutton-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, who said: "I was really upset and crying to the bank, who told me they couldn't help me because I'd paid by bank transfer."

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