ROGUE trader Vance Miller is on the run after escaping from police who had arrested him over an alleged kidnap.

Mr Miller broke free from officers who had been called to his mill in Oldham.

Police have confirmed they are looking for a 41-year-old man in connection with escaping from lawful custody, and an alleged kidnap.

But before boarding a flight to China, Mr Miller - whose kitchens company is the most complained about independent trader in the country - spoke to the M.E.N.

He said that he was 'no kidnapper.'

He said he had detained a group of armed robbers when he intercepted a raid on his premises - Maple Mill - and had taken them in for questioning himself because he had lost confidence in the police.

"I'm a sitting duck in Oldham now," he said. "I'm sick of going to the police with evidence of attacks on myself and my business and nothing gets done because of my reputation as a villain. Criminals know they can come here and have a go and get away with it."

He added: "I got a tip-off about an armed robbery planned on Sunday so myself and few colleagues, who had bullet-proof vests, waited for it to happen. Sure enough it did. I gave the robbers the option of going to the police or telling me what happened and who had put them up to it.

"They went for the second option and I kept them for no more than 12 hours until their stories tied in."

Complaints

Mr Miller was jailed in 1998 for punching a female environmental health worker in the face and was targeted in a series of trading standards raids in November. His firm has now attracted over 2,000 complaints and he has been banned from selling 500 mini-motorbikes.

When officers arrived to arrest him on Tuesday afternoon Mr Miller said there was "no way" he was obliging.

"They only sent 30 - it's usually 100 more than that," he claimed. "I ran through the factory and hid in one of the vans and then managed to get a driver to take me away while they were searching for me."

Speaking while on the run Mr Miller sent out a defiant message.

"I'm on my way to China," he said. "I've got business to do out there. My flight gets me back to London so I'll probably have a few drinks down there and call the police to get them to come and pick me up - it'll be cheaper than a taxi."

Police confirmed they were searching for a 41-year-old man in connection with escaping from lawful custody, and an alleged kidnap.

They added: "Whilst in the process of being arrested the 41-year-old broke free from the officers and escaped."

Anyone with information on Mr Miller's whereabouts is asked to call police on 0161 856 8951 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.