Kitchen firm pair lose appeal

TWO men who worked for an Oldham firm which sold shoddy kitchens to hundreds of customers have been told by top judges they deserved to be jailed.

Richard Brundrett and Matthew Leak were among six former employees of the business who were locked up at Manchester Crown Court in June.

Customers, taken in by extensive advertising in print and online, spent thousands of pounds believing they were getting quality kitchen furniture.

But many discovered they had bought cheaply-made and unusable units, in mis-matched shades or with missing parts.

They would then find it almost impossible to get a refund ­- with a number being abused and branded as "liars" by staff.

The firm, controlled by a man who is wanted on an arrest warrant but remains at large, was based at Maple Mill, Oldham, used a variety of names to trick unsuspecting customers.

Fake

Kitchen salesman Brundrett (42), of Peel Drive, Bacup, was jailed for nine months.

Online marketing man Leak (24), of Heald Close, Rochdale, who posted fake reviews on the internet, was handed a six-month sentence.

Both men challenged their sentences at London's Criminal Appeal Court, with their lawyers arguing they should not have been sent to prison.

But, throwing out their complaints, Mr Justice Dingemans said it was up to the crown court judge to decide whether to suspend their sentences, and he was entitled not to.

Sitting with Lady Justice Sharp and Judge Neil Bidder QC, he added: "The judge was best placed to assess the actions of each of those involved.

"We do not accept that these sentences were manifestly excessive - it is apparent the custody threshold had been passed.

"The judge was entitled to find that these offences were so serious that it would not have been appropriate to suspend the sentences."