Richard Beardsell

Richard Beardsell is an entrepreneur and former track and field sprint athlete who competed as a Masters athlete for Great Britain.

Fraud conviction

In July 2025, Beardsell was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, for fraudulently obtaining two Bounce Back Loans intended for COVID recovery for his company Sports Creative Limited, which he transferred to his personal account and bank accounts of his wife and other family members, using most of the funds to purchase a £1.3 million pound home in Prestbury, Cheshire.Beardsell, also broke the rules by inflating his company’s turnover and securing two loans, when businesses should have only received one loan. Sports Creative eventually went into liquidation, although Beardsell's other company ShakeSphere, which he had funded using an appearance on the TV show Dragons' Den (British [TV programme)|Dragon's Den], was still running successfully.