Disgraced Fleetwood owner Andy Pilley handed 13-year jail sentence for £15million fraud
Shamed Fleetwood chairman Andy Pilley has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of fraud offences that scammed businesses out of £15million
Former Fleetwood Town chairman and club owner Andy Pilley has been jailed for 13 years.
Pilley, 53, was found guilty of mis-selling energy contracts to businesses across the United Kingdom, defrauding customers to the tune of £15million. The offences in question were committed between 2014 and 2016, uncovered after a five-year-long investigation by British National Trading Standards.
It was discovered Pilley and his associates - through various companies and entities - misled small businesses into signing long-term energy contracts. Reports revealed charities and 'companies providing support services for disabled people' were among those businesses targeted by the scheme.
Pilley was found guilty on one count of false representation, one count of being concerned with the retention of criminal property and two counts of running a business with the intention of defrauding creditors.
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Gas and electricity supplier Pilley was sentenced on Tuesday at Preston Crown Court, where he appeared alongside his sister and business partner, Michelle Davidson. Two other associates, 52-year-old Lee Qualter and 38-year-old Joel Chapman - were also present for sentencing on fraud-related charges.
"Small business owners were deliberately deceived and locked in to contracts that were long-term and expensive, leaving many businesses struggling to pay the bills and sadly driving some business owners into making the difficult decision to cease trading," said Michael Bichard, chairman of National Trading Standards.
"This is not a victimless crime - small business owners have lost vast sums of money to this fraud and many businesses have gone under."
Pilley has been disqualified as a director for 13 years, the same length as his prison sentence, while Davidson was jailed for six years and disqualified as director for nine. Qualter and Chapman were jailed for seven years and eight months respectively.
Barrister Jonathan Laidlow, representing Pilley, said his client was "fundamentally a good man," who had "provided huge employment and economical benefits" in his local area. The businessman was born and raised in nearby Blackpool.
Pilley - who also owned League of Ireland First Division outfit Waterford - resigned as chairman of Fleetwood following his conviction in May.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday's sentencing, Laidlow commented the convictions would be "humiliating and humbling for him and a very severe punishment.
"He will not be able to face this fall from grace in privacy," he added. "Yet he remains upbeat in the face of adversity that might cow others."