TECH TYCOON BEHIND WHEEL WHILE BANNED

A BUSINESSMAN once tipped as 'the next Elon Musk' who was caught flouting a driving ban claimed he had been set up by people 'jealous of his success.

- KENNY PARKER & CHRIS SLATER

Inventor Julian Dugdale, 56, was spotted illegally driving a rented VW Golf after officers had earlier held a briefing about him after receiving reports he was defying the ban.

Mr Dugdale, who is the chief executive of Stockport-based firm Touchguard UK, failed to stop for police when an officer recognised him from a photograph shown at the briefing.

When he was confronted on April 9 last year, he ran inside a house and refused to answer the door, a court was told.

In court, adventure-loving Dugdale who regularly posts social media pictures of himself on sailing holidays and posing with a Ferrari, Aston Martin DB5 and vintage Porsche Roadster, claimed he was victim of mistaken identity and said the intelligence reports must have come from either a disgruntled ex-girlfriend or a business associate.