Andy Pilley, owner of Fleedwood Town, found guilty of fraud
Andy Pilley, owner of Fleetwood Town, faces jail time after being found guilty in a multi-million dollar fraud case.
A leading figure in a network described by the National Trading Standards as “a network of interconnected companies across the UK intending to mislead innocent small businesses with mis-selling power contracts”, Pilley has chaired the club for 21 years. Pilley, 52, will remain in custody pending trial on July 3, 2023.
FORCED CONTRACT SIGNED
It turned out that Pilley tricked small business owners into signing long-term energy contracts between 2014 and 2016 through fake companies.
He was convicted of fraudulent trading, fraudulent misrepresentation, and false representation for involvement in the acquisition, possession, use, or control of fraudulently obtained energy contract proceeds.
After Pilley was convicted, the future of Fleetwood Town was in limbo. Club management will have to closely monitor Pilley’s legal status and the judicial process. This may affect the financial situation of the club and may require changes in management in the future.
SMALL BUSINESSES AND CHARITIES
Andy Pilley, owner of Fleetwood Town, and his sister, Michelle Davidson, have been identified as holding companies engaging in fraudulent activity. The fraudulent activities were carried out through a telemarketing operation that appears to be independent but is actually operated through companies controlled by Pilley and Davidson. It has targeted small businesses and charities, such as sales companies, accommodation facilities, organizations that help children, and businesses that offer disability support services.
Scam sellers have tried to sway business owners by lying about contracts when customers move to a new location or when energy contracts need to be renewed.
The fraudulent sales included misleading statements about the term and price of the contract and the prices of the competition. The scam activity worked as most of the customers were unaware that they were being scammed. Evidence shows that the vast majority of power contracts sold by telemarketing companies go to the BES companies of Pilley and Davidson.
INCREASE OF £50M IN TWO YEARS
Between 2010 and 2015, the annual turnover of the two BES companies increased from £15m to £75m. By 2019, turnover had risen to over £100m and total profits ranged from £2-12m.