Meacher probes Miller case

AN OLDHAM MP has requested all background papers connected to the bungled Vance Miller prosecution to find out who gave it the go-ahead.

Michael Meacher, MP for Oldham West and Royton, submitted a Freedom of Information request to Oldham Council for all documents and minutes of meetings regarding the prosecution.

The request includes documents from when the prosecution was first mooted, to when the case was thrown out and right up to the present day.

Mr Meacher has also asked for documents from meetings between council officials and elected members.

The botched fraud trial, hailed as the largest, most expensive fraud trial brought by a Trading Standards authority in the UK, was due to last six months but collapsed in its 17th week.

Mr Miller (44), from Ramsbottom, was cleared along with co-defendants Nichola Brodie (33), also from Ramsbottom, Sadiya Hussain (29), from Milnrow, and Alan Ford (45), from Ashton.

Head of Oldham Trading Standards, Tony Allen, has been suspended ahead of a review of the case.

Oldham Council has now appealed against a judge’s order for the authority to pay the costs of the trial, an estimated £5million.

Mr Meacher said his request should clarify who was responsible for making the decision to prosecute.

He said: “This should throw some much-needed light and transparency on the murky background behind this ill-advised venture.