Documentation obtained by The Courier shows that both Tommy’s Leather Direct Proprietary Limited and Deborah Ann Browne, the current listed director, have been defendants in civil cases where settlements have not been reached.

Thomas Hayden Browne, of Cardigan Village, was listed as the former director of the company.

Mr Browne was previously a builder and plumber and his wife is Deborah Ann Browne.

The Courier can confirm that in recent weeks, 22 customers have been affected by the closure of Tommy’s Leather Direct, leaving them either thousands of dollars out-of-pocket or with faulty, damaged or incorrect goods. 

Deborah Browne has been the company’s director since it was registered for the second time under a new ABN in July last year.

Prior to that, Tommy’s Leather Direct was registered to an ABN trading by “Browne’s Plumbing and Gas”, registered under Thomas Hayden Browne.

Between February 2011 and August 2012 Tommy’s Leather Direct was located at 1107 La Trobe Street, Ballarat, before it mysteriously closed its doors and left customers demanding answers. 

The previous ABN number was deregistered in September 2012, the same month the store was listed as abandoned. 

One disgruntled customer set up an email for other customers affected by the closure and The Courier can confirm that a “Debbie Browne” emailed the address, posing as another distressed customer called “Nicole Riley”.

Debbie Browne demanded the address and contact details of the owners of Tommy’s Leather Direct. 

The Courier was able to contact a spokesman claiming to be a “book keeper” for Tommy’s Leather Direct, who said letters were sent to “more than 20” affected customers yesterday.

He said the letters were sent with a view to returning customer deposits.

“The company need to know whether the customers have cancelled their eftpos transactions before we send back refunds, or else they will be paid twice,” the book keeper said.

“(Our) first priority is to pay customers who have put any deposits on.”

The spokesman said there appeared “to be enough funds held by the company to pay back the deposits, which equate to about $25,000”.

He blamed increasing rent and “dirty tricks” by competitors for the closure.

“The company has stopped trading, before it has run up any substantial debt,” the spokesman said.

“There is discussions to cut the lease at 333 Gillies Street – it’s in the process.”

The spokesman also said Tommy’s Leather Direct would probably open up somewhere else.

Email correspondence between customers of Tommy’s Leather Direct and Deborah Browne seen by The Courier claims that cheques will be issued to customer depositors that did not receive their goods on June 20. 

The Courier has been unsuccessful at all other attempts to contact Thomas or Deborah Browne in the past fortnight.

The current ABN that Tommy’s Leather Direct is registered to has not filed for bankruptcy or insolvency.

david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au