CHESHIRE West and Chester Council’s Trading Standards team face a £10m damages claim brought against them by businessman and Fleetwood Town FC Chairman, Andy Pilley.

Due to be heard in the High Court this November, the council will face a civil trial for Human Rights breaches, trespass and misfeasance in public office.

The case is in response to what Mr Pilley believes is a long-running personal vendetta against him by the council’s Trading Standards team, who are investigating a number of individuals connected to his energy companies.

His energy companies, BES Utilities and Commercial Power, had their offices raided in July 2016.

Commenting on the ordeal his family has faced Pilley said: "This has been extremely distressing, not only for myself but also for my young family, to the point we now employ full-time security at our home.

"It is now over seven years since we first became aware of this Trading Standards investigation, and over five years since their raid on our premises which was carried out in a manner that I believe was calculated to cause maximum disruption and to damage our reputation.

"We have been forced to pursue this lengthy and expensive claim not only to clear our name and compensate us for the loss and damage to our businesses, but also to protect the many hundreds of people we employ across the North West, and the community we invest so heavily in through Fleetwood Town Football Club, the Community Trust and a range of other charitable projects."

The most shocking event in the ongoing investigation saga is an email in which one officer offered to ‘take out’ Pilley by shooting him with a deadly sniper rifle ‘accurate (from) 1,000 yards plus’.

This extraordinary remark was made by Trading Standard's officer from Cheshire West, while discussing the authority’s investigation into businesses owned by Mr Pilley.

Mr Pilley described the probe as ‘a shocking waste of time and public money’ and says that he had offered to assist investigators on eight occasions in the 16 months prior to the raids.

He added: "We totally deny any wrongdoing and will continue to fight for justice.

"We welcome our opportunity to expose their conduct in court, and we have no doubt we will be fully exonerated."

A spokesperson for National Trading Standards said: "Criminal Proceedings have been instigated in relation to a number of individuals.

"The fraud charges before the courts relate to the sale of non-domestic energy contracts to businesses across the country.

"The first hearing in relation to this matter will be at Blackpool Magistrates Court on September 22 2021.

"Given this is now a legal process, we will not be making any further public statements at this time."