'No action without your go-ahead': Jeffrey Epstein contacted about Sheffield Forgemasters involvement during £80m Government loan row

Recently-released documents about Epstein, who had pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor and been sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 under a controversial plea deal where more serious charges were dropped, reveal he was contacted on July 1, 2010 by a man named David Stern whose message included a misspelled reference to Sheffield Forgemasters.

Mr Stern said: "Had meeting with PA - no action re Sheffield Foregmasters [sic] and Aston Martin without your go-ahead. He is waiting for further info from the companies which I will send you - will join him at dinner on Monday for China-Britain Business Council".

In March 2010, then Business Secretary Peter Mandelson had announced an £80m Government loan to Forgemasters to fund expansion plans.

However on June 17, 2010, the loan was cancelled by the new coalition Government. The decision caused uproar in Sheffield, especially as new Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was a local MP. On July 8, new Business Secretary Vince Cable told Parliament that officials were working to "achieve a private sector solution".

Sir Vince told The Yorkshire Post he had “no knowledge whatsoever” of any involvement by Epstein in discussions about Forgemasters, while the company itself said it had "no knowledge or involvement in the email correspondence".

The July 2010 email does not state who ‘PA’ is.

In a separate email sent by Epstein to David Stern on May 16, 2010, he wrote “Green Park is the PA plan I briefed you on”. The following day, Mr Stern forwarded an email to Epstein from ‘The Duke’ and signed off ‘A, HRH The Duke of York KG’ covering the subject of “The Green Park Group”.

The email from ‘The Duke’ to Mr Stern states: “What a coincidence I was just entering your email address into my computer when your email arrived! I am having a series of discussions re The Green Park Group (GPG) when I get back and would be delighted to further our discussions especially as I know you will have spoken to the GURU.… It might be that he and you are the Ghost for me in the up side of this entity.”

There is no suggestion the Green Park emails are in any way related to the later Sheffield Forgemasters one.

At the time, Prince Andrew held the post of the Government's ‘Special Representative for Trade and Investment’. During his time in the post, he visited Sheffield Forgemasters in 2009. He stepped down from the role in 2011 amidst criticism of his friendship with Epstein.

The former Duke of York was stripped of his royal titles by the King in November 2025 due to continuing controversy about his links with Epstein, who died in 2019 after being arrested on sex trafficking charges.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was repeatedly contacted for comment but there was no response at time of publication.

The Yorkshire Post has been unable to find any further references to Forgemasters in the millions of Epstein documents which have recently been released by the US Department of Justice.

In 2011, the firm was subsequently offered a £36m Government loan but later withdrew from it. The company was nationalised in 2021.

There are other references to Aston Martin in the files, including a June 24 2010 email from Epstein to a redacted party stating: "Was at meeting about Aston Martin, but did not attend meeting with PWC.” He added that ‘PA’ had written to him about the result of the meeting.

A spokesperson for Sheffield Forgemasters said the company “has been made aware of a reference in the files”. They added: “The company has no knowledge of, or involvement in the email correspondence.”

Sir Vince said there was “strong disagreement” among officials about the cancellation of the loan but the view it was “poor value for money” prevailed.

“I believe that officials close to the project then tried to seek alternative funding for the project – I believe an export order for Korea – but no joy.”

He said he now regretted the loan’s cancellation and believes ministers were “not properly briefed”. Sir Vince said: “In retrospect I was given bad advice and made a bad decision.”

A spokesperson for Aston Martin said: "There is no evidence in our records of Aston Martin engaging with Jeffrey Epstein and Andrew Mountbatten regarding investment for the company in 2010. The Epstein files do however suggest third parties to Aston Martin, including PwC, David Stern and EME Capital, discussed and held meetings about Aston Martin funding. To be clear, Aston Martin was not present at those meetings or involved in any discussions they may have had.”

Attempts to reach Mr Stern for comment were unsuccessful. Lord Mandelson did not respond to request for comment.