Miller slams Trading Standards

A FURNITURE expert told trading standards that an Oldham kitchen factory boss accused of ripping-off customers could describe his products as ‘solid wood’, a court heard.

Oldham Trading Standards paid £22,000 to Sue Calver, a furniture expert who inspected Vance Miller’s goods.

Miller (44), is in the thirteenth week of a fraud trial at Manchester Crown Court. Ms Calver wrote in a report that the cabinets she inspected were ‘made from blockboard, which could reasonably be described as solid wood’.

Kirsty Robinson, senior investigating officer in Operation Church, an Oldham Trading Standards probe which resulted in a raid of Miller’s Maple Mill in Hathershaw in November 2006, admitted they had had Ms Calver’s report.

However, the watchdog remained convinced he was defrauding customers. This, Miller told the jury, was in spite of the fact he had invited trading standards to “come to the mill and inspect the 100,000 solid-wood doors and 10,000 solid- wood carcasses” he had.

Miller then accused trading standards, who swooped on the homes of his employees as part of the investigation, of trying to find proof of a conspiracy when you haven’t even found proof of a crime.

Ms Robinson said complaints from the public and the firm’s failure to rectify them indicated there had been a conspiracy to defraud the public.

Earlier, James Gregory, who is defending Miller’s co-defendant Alan Ford, accused Oldham Trading Standards of “outrageous extravagance” in the time and money spent on their investigation.

Miller, of Cemetery Road, Ramsbottom, Nichola Brodie (33), of Square Street, Ramsbottom, Sadiya Hussein (29), of Newfield Head, Milnrow, and Alan Ford (45), of Firbank Close, Ashton under Lyne all deny conspiracy to defraud. Miller and Ford also deny conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to commit fraud by failing to disclose.

(Proceeding)