Vance Miller Fined £90,000 and Given a Six Month Suspended Sentence

Kitchen supplier Vance Miller has again been found in contempt of court after Manchester County Court yesterday fined him £90,000 and gave him a six month sentence suspended for two years. The sentence follows action taken by the OFT after Mr Miller breached a Stop Now Order granted by the Court in April 2002 for the second time.

The Stop Now Order required Mr Miller to stop breaching specified consumer legislation, including supplying goods not of satisfactory quality and supplying goods not as described. Despite the Order the OFT received further complaints, and in June 2003 Mr Miller was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for contempt of court. Mr Miller sought to purge his contempt and on providing various undertakings to the court and was released on 31 July 2003.

Following his release from prison, the OFT began receiving complaints about various businesses including Discount Kitchens Direct and Kitchens. The OFT investigated whether the businesses were linked to Mr Miller and after concluding that they appeared to be linked to him, issued further proceedings for contempt of court against him in May 2007.

The trial commenced on 19 May 2008 and judgment was handed down by the court yesterday.

Mike Haley, OFT Director of Consumer Protection said:
'The sentence handed down by the Court sends a clear message to traders that they must obey consumer protection law or face serious consequences. The OFT will take firm action against those that carry on businesses in a way that is detrimental to consumers, and will use all the powers at its disposal to ensure compliance with court orders and consumer protection law.'