Andy Pilley: fraud trial of Fleetwood Town boss adjourned for a month
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The case first got under way in the Court 2 of Preston’s old Sessions House on October 11 last year and were initially expected to last until just after New Year.
But the case has now been adjourned until March 13, with more evidence for the defence yet to come before the court.
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Hide AdIt is understood the adjournment will benefit members of the jury, who have already sat through four months of a trial which has only just gone beyond the halfway point.
Trading Standards, who have brought the case against the accused, and Preston Crown Court have been approached for a comment.
The four defendants are facing various fraud allegations related to energy supply contracts through Mr Pilley's firm Business Energy Solutions (BES) and other companies.
Fleetwood Town FC owner Mr Pilley, 52, from Thornton, is accused of two counts of running a business with the intention of defrauding creditors, one count of false representation and one count of being concerned with the retention of criminal property.
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Hide AdMr Pilley’s sister, Michelle Davidson, 49, of Holmefield Avenue, Cleveleys faces two counts of running a business with the intention of defrauding creditors and one of being concerned with the retention of criminal property.
Lee Qualter, 52, of Holmefield Avenue, Cleveleys, faces one allegation of running a company with the intent to defraud.
Joel Chapman, 38, of Kingston Road, Willerby, Yorkshire, who also had a Poulton address, is accused of aiding false representation by coercing staff to dupe customers.
All four deny the allegations against them.
The prosecution by Trading Standards North West follows a raid on BES offices by its officers and police in 2016 after complaints by customers.
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Hide AdIn an opening statement on October 11, prosecutors claimed that sales teams employed by Mr Pilley’s companies “routinely used false statements, misleading information and outright lies” to win sales – and that the companies involved made huge profits on the back of these sales techniques.
Prosecutor Andrew Thomas KC said that despite this, employees were not reprimanded or sacked by their bosses when this came to light – some were even promoted.
At best, he said, the bosses turned a blind eye and it is they who face the court proceedings.
The victims were small business owners from all around the country, such as small shops, pubs, cafes and hairdressers.
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Hide AdHowever, in a statement from Ms Davidson read out in court in December, she said the company took “the resolution of complaints seriously, weeding out any brokers who mis-sell.”
Mr Pilley took the stand last month and described how a former employee - who cannot be named – "made a full-time job of slagging my business off".
He said "damaging" online posts by the former employee were seen by a disgruntled customer, who he says then went on to write more online posts, signposted to other people to complain, and claims the complaints sent to Trading Standards were "doctored".
Mr Pilley said he worked transparently and with an "open door" with regulator Ofgem and that emails show BES tried to ensure compliance with Ofgem's rules.
The case is set to resume on March 13.