Sevenoaks businessman pays his debt

A SEVENOAKS businessman well known for hosting networking events and charity sports evenings has been chased through the courts for thousands of pounds.

Sam Goode, 37, of Cramptons Road, was hit with a civil action after a prominent member of Sevenoaks charity the Round Table demanded money back from him.

A month after the county court judgement against him on December 29, Mr Goode had still failed to pay up.

But just two hours after the Chronicle confronted him, he repaid £4,200 to the City worker the Chronicle agreed not to name.

The pair had decided to put on a festival "for the benefit of the Sevenoaks community", and Mr Goode was given £4,000 towards the £10,000 hire of the venue.

The event would have been held in August on a private estate in Sevenoaks to coincide with the Olympics.

But the venue was not booked prior to the deadline of September 1 last year, and the unnamed man asked for his cash back.

Legal documents submitted to Northampton County Court said: "After discovering he owed numerous people in the community money, I requested he provide me with confirmation that the venue was booked.

"He has failed to provide me with confirmation of the venue, despite numerous requests, and I now believe the money was not for the venue hire and requested it be returned."

A judgment was issued against the defendant on December 29, but the claimant had still not received the money on Tuesday.

But after the Chronicle intervened, Mr Goode paid up straight away.

The man told the Chronicle: "I'm so chuffed to get my money back. I didn't think this would happen so quickly. You're better than the bailiffs."

A police spokesman confirmed they were investigating the matter.

Mr Goode told the Chronicle: "I've spoken to him and the money has been paid back and cleared into his account."

Mr Goode is well known in the area for organising charity and social occasions for sportspeople and business interests in the area.

He helped to run Dunton Green football club and was involved with the Ossie Ardiles soccer schools in Sevenoaks last summer.

Most recently, he launched a new monthly charity networking event at the 7 Hotel Diner in Polhill.

Mr Goode confirmed to the Chronicle he had paid back the Round Table member on Tuesday.