Matthew Leak's appeal thrown out

Matthew Leak, who worked for a firm which sold shoddy kitchens to hundreds of customers, has been told by a judge he deserved to be jailed.

Leak was among six former employees of the business who were locked up at Manchester Crown Court in June.

Customers, taken in by extensive advertising in print and online, spent thousands of pounds believing they were getting quality kitchen furniture.

Many discovered they had bought cheaply-made and unusable units, in mis-matched shades or with missing parts.

They then found it almost impossible to get a refund - with a number being abused and branded as "liars" by staff.

The firm, controlled by a man who is wanted on an arrest warrant but remains at large, was based at Maple Mill, Oldham, used a variety of names to trick unsuspecting customers.

Online marketing man Leak, 24, of Heald Close, Rochdale, who posted fake reviews on the internet, was handed a six-month sentence.

He challenged his sentence at London's Criminal Appeal Court, with his lawyer arguing he should not have been sent to prison.

Throwing out his complaint, Mr Justice Dingemans said it was up to the crown court judge to decide whether to suspend their sentences, and he was entitled not to.

Sitting with Lady Justice Sharp and Judge Neil Bidder QC, he added: "The judge was best placed to assess the actions of each of those involved.

"We do not accept that these sentences were manifestly excessive - it is apparent the custody threshold had been passed.

"The judge was entitled to find that these offences were so serious that it would not have been appropriate to suspend the sentences."