FORMER Premier League star turned housebuilder Garry Flitcroft is awaiting trial amid claims his firm knowingly ripped off the patents of a fellow Lancashire company.

And the Bolton-based footballer's 21-year-old son Thomas is also facing a possible jail sentence for contempt of court over insulated timber frame buildings constructed by the firms Flitcraft and Flitcraft Timber Frames.

A High Court judge has already ruled that the timber frames, copyrighted by Preston-based businessman Philip Price and licensed to his firm Supawell, and later built by Flitcraft, must be destroyed and all related promotional materials should be deleted from the latter’s website.

But the Patents Court has been told Recorder Douglas Campbell QC’s orders had mostly not been complied with and Thomas Flitcroft, last said to be living with his father in Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, is now facing possible committal proceedings on October 11.

Judge Campbell said he had been asked to consider that Thomas Flitcroft was “the controlling mind” of Flitcraft, even though while giving evidence the son had paused to look over at his father and another Flitcraft employee more than once.

The judge said: “That is behaviour which I would expect from a 21-year-old joiner who was out of his depth but not what I would expect from the controlling mind of a company employing 20 people with a turnover of millions who was directing an established management team.”

In a 2019 magazine article, which also featured his former Blackburn Rovers team-mate and business partner David Dunn, the court heard 46-year-old Garry Flitcroft ­— a former Turton High School pupil portrayed Flitcraft as his own venture.

But the court was told that lawyers representing both sides were happy to accept Thomas Flitcroft as the company’s controller. Judge Campbell added: “Despite my considerable doubts, I will proceed on that basis.”

In his contempt of court ruling he said he was satisfied Flitcraft had sent out old brochures to customers, containing patented materials, and had not overseen the destruction of copyrighted products, as required. Judge Campbell said: “The defendants’ approach to all these matters was casual and they did not seem to care whether or not they got it right or how quickly they complied with my order; indeed, even if they complied with my order at all.”

The judge requested submissions on whether the custodial threshold had been passed for Thomas Flitcroft’s contempt of court or whether a fine would serve as punishment.

Garry Flitcroft played in the Premier League for Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United, as well as playing in the Football League for Bury.

Officials said no date had been set for the former Rovers captain's trial over whether he knowingly copied the patented designs.