The chief executive of Sports Direct, David Forsey, has been charged with a criminal offence under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 over the collapse of fashion chain USC.
The government's Insolvency Service said: "We can confirm that criminal proceedings have been commenced against David Michael Forsey."
The charge relates to allegations that he broke rules about notifying authorities before laying off workers at a warehouse. It follows an investigation earlier this year into how Sports Direct laid off 83 staff at the USC distribution depot in South Ayrshire. The company was later bought by another part of the Sports Direct empire in a so-called pre-pack administration deal and it is now trading again.
Chesterfield Magistrates Court is due to hear the case on 14 October and the maximum penalty for the offence is £5,000.
