Judge Slams trading standards
http://www.lgcplus.com/news/council-news/judge-slams-trading-standards-probe/5010380.article
A crown court judge has criticised trading standards for a “flawed” court prosecution against a Lancashire businessman, which could cost the taxpayer millions.
The anti-fraud operation by Oldham Borough Council’s trading standards department is understood to be the largest undertaken by trading standards officers in Britain.
Vance Miller, 44, who ran a multimillion-pound company, was accused of cheating customers by selling them supposed high-quality kitchens made of chipboard and medium-density fibreboard.
Judge Jonathan Foster QC threw the case out at Manchester Crown Court, saying the investigation carried out by the trading standards department, which was led by Tony Allen, had been “misconceived” from the start.
Mr Allen is understood to have been suspended from his job as a result of the case.
Mr Miller, from Ramsbottom, Lancashire, was charged with conspiracy to defraud, alongside his colleagues Nichola Brodie, 33, from Ramsbottom, Sadiya Hussain, 29, of Milnrow, and Alan Ford, 45, from Ashton-Under-Lyne.
A series of errors which were committed by the borough council meant that the defendants could not receive a fair trial, Judge Foster told the court.
The trading standards department boss admitted that it was his “desire” to close the company down, and this contradicted his earlier evidence given in the case, said the judge.
“Mr Allen’s initial desire to close the business down coloured his thinking thereafter. It led him to lose his objectivity,” Judge Foster told the jurors before he dismissed them.