Vance-Miller.co.uk

Oldham suspends trading standards chief

Oldham suspends trading standards chief after kitchen case collapses

Oldham's chief trading standards officer was suspended today after a judge threw out a fraud case against kitchen entrepreneur Vance Miller.

Miller, who ran a number of kitchen companies called Discount Kitchens Direct, Forever Kitchens and Rock Solid Kitchens from a mill on Cardwell Street, was accused of conspiracy to commit fraud and making false representations.

But Judge Jonathan Foster QC threw out the charges against Miller and three co-accused, saying the case was "misconceived from the start".

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, which was left with a £4m bill for costs, suspended its head of trading standards Tony Allen, whom the judge said was an unreliable witness.

The council sought to show that Miller had passed off material as sold wood when it was in fact chipboard, but the court was told that materials had not been analysed properly.

The trading standards investigation began after hundreds of customers complained about the materials used.

Charlie Parker, Oldham council's chief executive, said the local authority was disappointed by the judge's decision but added that there would be no appeal.

The council has appointed Stewart Dobson, aformer acting chief executive of Birmingham City Council, to review the case.

Parker added: "“I can also confirm that a senior member of staff has been suspended – without prejudice – pending the outcome of Mr Dobson's findings.

“Until the review is complete it would be wholly inappropriate for Oldham Council to make any further comment on this matter.”

Miller, who defended himself in court but had his case prepared by Manchester-based solicitors Burton Copeland, said he was not surprised by the outcome.