Oldham council sacks trading standards chief

OLDHAM Council has sacked the head of trading standards who led the flawed prosecution of kitchen firm boss Vance Miller.

The council had suspended trading standards chief Tony Allan in January after Judge Jonathan Foster QC called a halt to a 14-week trial at which Miller and three colleagues were acquited of conspiracy to defraud. The judge had described the council’s former trading standards chief Tony Allen as an unreliable witness.

The case had been one of the largest trading standards investigations ever undertaken and involved the removal of more than 270,000 documents from Miller’s home and business premises at Marple Mill following co-ordinated raids in 2006. However, following its dismissal the council was landed with a £4m legal bill and commissioned an independent investigation led by lawyer Stuart Dobson.

Following this investigation, the council has decided to sack Allen, who is currently appealing against the decision.

Oldham Council chief executive Charlie Parker said: “We can confirm that as a result of the disciplinary investigation into the issues surrounding the prosecution of Mr Vance Miller, Mr Alan Ford, Ms Sadiya Hussein and Ms Nicola Brodie, a member of staff has been dismissed from the council.

“This dismissal is subject to an appeal and therefore no further comment can be made at this time.”