Miller’s great kitchen rip-off

Vance Miller

AN Oldham businessman ran a multimillion–pound company cheating customers by selling supposed high–quality kitchens made of chipboard and MDF, a court heard today.
Vance Miller (44) revelled in his “unconventional approach to business” as an entrepreneur, but in fact his approach was both unconventional and criminal, Patrick Field QC told a jury at Manchester Crown Court.

Mr Field said Miller’s businesses were not “small beer” but had a multimillion–pound turnover, boasting outlets in Poland and China.

Boasts

“This was a big business that boasted about being one of the biggest sellers of kitchens and kitchen components in the country,” the prosecutor added.

Miller, whose headquarters is at Maple Mill in Cardwell Street, ran a number of companies under different names, advertising in national newspapers and magazines offering high–quality “solid” or “real” wood kitchens and kitchen components at bargain prices, the jury was told.

Salesmen were sent to the homes of interested customers, who were asked to pay either in cash or by bankers draft.

But when the goods were delivered they discovered the kitchens were not high–quality goods but poor–quality kitchens made of MDF, chipboard or laminated blockboard parts.

Customers complained to the firm and some who did not get a “satisfactory response” went to trading standards officers.

The prosecution is being brought by Oldham Council’s trading standards department.

Miller, from Ramsbottom, was the driving force and “brains” behind the enterprise Mr Field told the jury. “He liked to think of himself as an entrepreneur and revels in his unconventional approach to business,” he added.

“We say cheating customers and making dishonest claims for products is not just unconventional, it’s criminal.

“This was a fraud in its simplest form.

The defendants allowed or were involved in telling potential customers they would get high–quality goods knowing that this was false.

“The customers agreed to purchase the goods, having paid for the goods customers discovered they had been duped.”

Also on trial are Alan Ford (45), from Ashton, Nichola Brodie (33) from Ramsbottom, and Sadiya Hussain (29) of Milnrow.

All four deny conspiracy to defraud customers by dishonestly representing by adverts kitchens were solid or real wood when they were not.

Miller and Ford also deny conspiracy to commit fraud by making false representation of the nature and quality of the supplied goods.

Both also deny a charge of conspiracy to defraud by failing to disclose the names of persons carrying on the business.

The trial is expected to last up to six weeks.