A businessman from Ramsbottom ran a multi-million pound company cheating customers by selling supposed high-quality kitchens that were actually made of chipboard and MDF, a court heard.

Vance Miller, aged 44, revelled in his “unconventional approach to business” as an entrepreneur, but in fact his approach was both unconventional and criminal, Patrick Field QC told a jury at Manchester Crown Court.

Mr Field said Miller’s businesses were not “small beer”, but had a multi-million pound turnover.

The prosecutor said: “This was a big business that boasted about being one of the biggest sellers of kitchens and kitchen components in the country. Although the sums involved in each individual sale may not look particularly high, please remember, these are significant sums of money for customers individually.”

The prosecution is being brought by Oldham Borough Council’s trading standards department — the town where Miller’s business was based.

Miller, of Cemetery Road, Ramsbottom, ran a number of companies under different names, offering high-quality “solid” or “real” wood kitchens and kitchen components at bargain prices, the jury were told.

Salesmen were sent to the homes of interested customers, who were asked to pay either in cash or by banker’s draft.

But when the goods were delivered they discovered the kitchens were not high quality but poor-quality kitchens made of MDF, chipboard or laminated block board parts, the jury heard.

Customers complained to the firm and some went to trading standards officers.

Also on trial are Miller’s girlfriend Nichola Brodie, 33, of Square Street, Ramsbottom, Sadiya Hussain, 29, of Milnrow, and Alan Ford, 45, from Ashton-Under-Lyne.

All four deny conspiracy to defraud kitchen customers, between April 1 2001 and November 2006, by dishonestly representing by adverts kitchens that were solid or real wood when they were not.

Miller and Ford also deny conspiracy to commit fraud between January 2007 and January 2009 by making false representation of the nature and quality of the supplied goods.

And both also deny a charge of conspiracy to defraud between January 2007 and January 2009 by failing to disclose the names of persons carrying on the business.

The trial is expected to last up to six weeks.