A FORMER Blackburn Rovers captain has won a legal dispute with a rival business over patents for timber frame homes.

Last year, a judgement was secured against Flitcraft Ltd, a timber frame homes manufacturer based in St Michael's near Garstang and managed by former Manchester City and Rovers midfielder Garry Flitcroft and his son Thomas.

The complex case revolved around a dispute that the Flitcrofts had been involved with former business owners Philip Price and Neil Middleton and their company Supawell Ltd, who claimed the former had knowingly ripped off their patents.

However the judgement was appealed by Mr Flitcroft, with the Court of Appeal now determining that the ruling was wrong in law.

A spokesman for Aticus Law, the company representing Mr Flitcroft, said: “Mr Price had claimed that patents previously registered in his name had been transferred in March 2011 to former business partner Fred Bridge, who then transferred them back to him five years later and post-bankruptcy.

“On review of the evidence it was found by the Court of Appeal that Mr Price may not have owned the patents at the time of the alleged transfer because evidence was produced which identified that he had already sold them to another entity for £250,000 just three days before.

“The Court of Appeal found that the ownership of the patents was not a straightforward matter."

Mr Flitcroft said: “We are very pleased to win and succeed in the appeal.

“We will now be considering our legal options to pursue further claims against them.”

Flitcraft Ltd’s solicitor, Simon Fagan of Aticus Law in Manchester, said: “The whole case is complex but the Court of Appeal decision to set aside the judgement properly reflects both the legal position and evidence that exists in this case.”

Price and the companies were ordered to pay costs. They were approached for comment.

A High Court judge had already ruled that the timber frames, copyrighted by Preston-based businessman Mr Price, must be destroyed and all related promotional materials should be deleted from Flitcraft’s website.

Thomas Flitcroft was last year given a suspended prison sentence for alleged contempt of court for failing to obey a judge’s ruling to destroy brochures and remove website material.