A High Court judge has delivered a damning verdict, ruling that the former owner of the delivery giant Yodel likely forged his own mother's signature in a desperate attempt to seize back control of the company.
The Failed Takeover and Swift Collapse
In an extraordinary judgment published on Friday, Mr Justice Fancourt detailed the events surrounding Jacob Corlett's brief and tumultuous ownership of Yodel. The 31-year-old logistics entrepreneur acquired the financially troubled parcel carrier for just £1 in January 2024, intending to merge it with his own firm, Shift.
However, the rescue plan unravelled rapidly. Within six months, Yodel could not meet its debts to HM Revenue and Customs and other commercial partners. This forced Corlett to sell the business in June 2024—also for £1—to a separate company called Judge Logistics Ltd (JLL). The Polish parcel locker specialist InPost later purchased JLL in a deal worth £106m, taking ultimate ownership of Yodel.
A Counterclaim Built on 'Forged' Documents
After Yodel sued him for alleged breaches of duty during his directorship, Corlett launched a counterclaim. He argued that at the time of the sale to JLL, he possessed warrants granting companies he controlled a majority stake, meaning he should regain control.
Yodel fiercely contested this in court, presenting forensic handwriting analysis that threw the authenticity of the key documents into serious doubt. The papers, which Corlett claimed were signed by his mother, Tamara Gregory, during a breakfast meeting at his Liverpool flat, were allegedly written with three different pens.
Justice Fancourt concluded that Corlett probably forged his mother's initials after losing control of Yodel to fabricate evidence of the warrants. He stated the handwriting expert evidence showed the signatures were "suspicious, showed many signs of forgery, and probably were forged."
'A Loving Mother' and a 'Discreditable' Case
In her testimony, Gregory maintained she had signed the documents herself but used a "scrappy" initialled signature because she was rushed, angry, and upset. The judge dismissed this, characterising her evidence as "an attempt by a loving mother to help her son, who was in a very difficult position of his own making."
The ruling was scathing of Corlett's overall conduct. Justice Fancourt found he had "not given a moment's thought" to repaying creditors and that his actions would have blocked vital rescue funding. He added that Corlett had advanced "a number of discreditable explanations... which were untrue."
Following the judgment, Michael Rouse, CEO of InPost, said: "This is an extraordinary judgment that demonstrates the lengths Corlett was prepared to go in order to extract money from Yodel." He called it a total vindication and stated Yodel is considering further legal action regarding the forgery, while continuing to pursue claims for breach of duty and misappropriation of funds.
The Guardian has approached Shift, where Corlett remains chief executive and founder, for comment.
