A TYCOON who ran a million-pound company is sleeping rough after his world came crashing down. At the height of his success, 55-year-old Paul Cullen enjoyed exotic five-star holidays, drove a new Mercedes and owned a large house in Chorlton. But after losing his business, the computer whiz went from riches to rags.

He now lives in a tent under a graffiti-daubed railway bridge not far from his old home - and chooses not to see his young son.

"I used to be able to provide him with everything," he said. "I would drive him to school in the latest Mercedes cars.

"It would be heart-wrenching for him to see me like this."

Mr Cullen keeps warm by a camp fire and believes he would `starve' if locals didn't feed him.

He told the MEN's sister paper, the South Manchester Reporter: "My life has changed dramatically and it's been a horrendous experience. If it wasn't for the kindness of strangers, I wouldn't survive."

In 2001, Paul and his business partner were featured in the M.E.N. after developing a computer software product tipped to threaten Microsoft.

At the time, their Heaton Mersey-based firm Omnis had a turnover of £400,000.

Paul toured Europe and the Far East on business trips and enjoyed luxury breaks. But marketing the software put a drain on the firm and it was taken over in 2004. Paul kept his job with the new owners until they moved to Chesterfield.

Struggling

Paul said while struggling to find work he split from his partner, the mother of his young son, and they sold their home.

Too proud to claim benefits, he lived on the house sale proceeds and ran up thousands in debts until his money ran out last September. "I assumed I would get work," he said, "but I never got anything beyond short-term contracts - at my age, I don't fit the image of the IT whiz kid."

After the house sale, Paul lived in rented rooms in Whalley Range, but four weeks ago he was evicted by the landlord, he hadn't been able to pay for six months. Since then, Paul has been on the streets.

He is ashamed to ask old friends and associates for help, but spoke to the M.E.N. to highlight the plight of the homeless.

He said: "I assumed that there's some sort of unit who would help. But when I went to see Direct Access, they told me I was `intentionally homeless' because I'd been living somewhere and hadn't paid the rent.

"I had no option but to find somewhere on the streets."

Withington MP John Leech said: "Nobody becomes `intentionally homeless' - it's a case of people not being able to afford the accommodation they are in.

"I will help in any way I can."

Manchester's housing director Deborah McLaughlin, said: "We will help Mr Cullen find temporary accommodation and advise him about his options."