Wok & Go Franchise Boss Sentenced After Breaching Director Ban. The case of the Wok & Go Franchise Boss serves as a cautionary tale for others in the industry.
A former boss of a noodle bar franchise company has been sentenced after continuing to manage the business despite being disqualified from acting as a company director.
This incident has significant implications for the Wok & Go Franchise Boss, highlighting the importance of adhering to legal responsibilities.
His wife, Sharon Pheby, 51, was also sentenced after admitting that she aided and abetted her husband in acting in breach of his director disqualification.
The case highlights the serious consequences for individuals who continue to manage or control companies after being disqualified as directors.
Moreover, this situation raises questions about the accountability of the Wok & Go Franchise Boss within the broader franchise sector.
Continued involvement in franchise business
Understanding the Role of the Wok & Go Franchise Boss in Corporate Governance
Pheby was already subject to a seven-year director disqualification, imposed in July 2019 following the liquidation of another food business, T.P.F Limited.
The original disqualification followed failures relating to the company’s accounting records. Investigators were unable to account for more than £200,000 in current assets recorded in the company’s accounts or properly explain almost £800,000 of expenditure.
Despite the ban, which prevented Pheby from acting as a director or becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company without court permission, he continued to play a management role within Wok & Go Franchise UK Limited.
Many franchise stakeholders are watching the Wok & Go Franchise Boss case closely to understand its ramifications.
Pheby pleaded guilty in August 2025 to acting in the management of the company while disqualified.
False employment document
The implications of this case extend beyond the Wok & Go Franchise Boss, affecting perceptions of franchise governance.
The case also involved a separate offence relating to a false employment document used during civil court proceedings connected to a franchisee’s claim for damages.
The document described Pheby’s position as a £12-an-hour “Franchise Relationship Manager”, with his actual role within the company forming part of the dispute.
A jury at Chester Crown Court unanimously convicted Pheby in August 2026 of using a false instrument with the intention that it be accepted as genuine.
Covid explanation rejected by evidence
During proceedings, Pheby claimed that he had stepped back into the business to protect it during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, an analysis of the company’s bank accounts found that more than £170,000 was transferred to his personal accounts during 2020.
The actions of the Wok & Go Franchise Boss during the pandemic raise ethical questions about franchise management.
His wife also admitted aiding and abetting him, on the basis that her involvement began from 1 August 2020.
During an interview with Insolvency Service investigators, Sharon Pheby said she discovered in August 2020 that she was registered as a director of around 18 companies, despite believing she was a director of only one.
She told investigators that her husband had said he had “no choice” but to make her a director to keep the businesses running.
Sentences
The legal repercussions faced by the Wok & Go Franchise Boss are severe and may deter similar breaches in the future.
Pheby was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on 5 October 2026.
He received:
- 12 months in prison, suspended for two years
- 200 hours of unpaid work
- A further 10-year director disqualification, taking his ban to 2036
Sharon Pheby received:
-
- A 12-month community order
- 100 hours of unpaid work
These developments regarding the Wok & Go Franchise Boss serve as a critical reminder for all franchise leaders.
- A five-year director disqualification
Confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 remain ongoing.
Insolvency Service warning
David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said the case demonstrated the consequences of ignoring a director disqualification.
Industry experts note that the Wok & Go Franchise Boss’s case could lead to stricter regulations for franchise operations.
He said Pheby knew he was prohibited from running companies but continued managing the business regardless, despite his original ban following serious failures relating to company accounting records.
Snasdell also highlighted the use of the false employment document during civil proceedings, where Pheby’s role within the company was under scrutiny.
He said director disqualifications are intended to protect the public and wider business community, adding that individuals who breach them risk prosecution and potentially much longer periods of disqualification.
A warning for the franchise sector
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of corporate governance and transparency within franchising.
Ultimately, the Wok & Go Franchise Boss incident underscores the need for transparency in franchise practices.
Franchise businesses involve multiple stakeholders, including franchisors, franchisees, lenders and suppliers, and those involved in managing franchise companies are expected to comply fully with their legal responsibilities.
For individuals subject to a director disqualification, the restrictions extend beyond simply being listed as a company’s director. Taking part in the promotion, formation or management of a company while disqualified can itself constitute a criminal offence.
The Pheby case demonstrates that attempting to operate behind alternative job titles or through other company structures does not necessarily remove those legal responsibilities.
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