Milnrow woman cleared in bungled fraud trial

The trial of a Milnrow woman was thrown out of court following a bungled investigation which could leave council taxpayers in Oldham to foot a £5 million bill.

The 17-week trial of Sadiya Hussain, 29, who was tried alongside the boss of the Oldham kitchen company she worked for, was dismissed by Judge Jonathon Foster QC, who ruled it had been “misconceived from the start”. Ms Hussain hardly featured in the case, save for performing her role within the business.

In a devastating judgement for Oldham Council, he said the prosecution was “an abuse of the process of the court” and that he could not rely on the evidence of Oldham Trading Standards (OTS) head Tony Allen, who masterminded the prosecution.

Mr Allen has been suspended by the council ahead of an independent review of the case.

The investigation cost up to £3 million, court costs were up to £2 million — a court hearing on 11 February will decide what Oldham Council should pay — and boss of the company Vance Miller is considering suing, saying the case has been harmful to his business and reputation.

The 44-year-old said: “The fact of the matter is they owe me millions of pounds and have destroyed my reputation.

“I’m not a crook and I’m not a fraudster. I don’t want something for nothing, I want to be put back in the position I was before.”

The controversial businessman, from Ramsbottom, was accused of passing off chipboard kitchens to customers as solid wood.

More than 130 police and Trading Standards officers raided his base at Maple Mill, Hathershaw in November 2006 — described as “disproportionate and oppressive” by the judge.

Only one customer was interviewed before the raid and he conceded he had attempted to blackmail Mr Miller.

Three former salesman called by the prosecution said no attempt was made to encourage them to misrepresent the products — and turned out to be good witnesses for the defence.

And a £22,000 report written by a wood expert for the prosecution was not used because it revealed cabinets could reasonably be described as solid wood.

Co-defendants Ms Hussain, Nichola Brodie (33), from Ramsbottom, and Alan Ford (45), from Ashton, were cleared.

Council chief executive Charlie Parker said: “We are disappointed by the judge’s decision, but this was an extremely complex and ground-breaking case which was always going to be challenging.

“We have decided not to appeal and are now establishing a thorough and independent review.

“This will be led by Stewart Dobson, a lawyer and former acting chief executive of Birmingham City Council.

“Until the review is complete it would be wholly inappropriate for Oldham Council to make any further comment on this matter.”