A rogue car dealer in Milton Keynes who clocked up almost £190,000 in fraudulent activities has been served a suspended sentence and 200 hours of unpaid work following a successful investigation by MK Council.
Dariusz Pipcyznski, who sold cars via Facebook and Gumtree using false identities and without declaring that he was a valid trader, pleaded guilty to the offences under the Fraud Act 2006 at Aylesbury Crown Court on 23 February.
By failing to declare himself as a car trader, anybody who purchased a car from Pipcyznski wouldn’t have been aware that they would have been entitled to claim for a repair or refund under their civil rights, had the car been found to be faulty.
As well as being given a 17-month prison sentence, suspended over two years, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, Pipcyznski will pay £33,654 in proceeds of crime and £7,000 in legal costs, following an investigation by Trading Standards Officers at Milton Keynes Council.
Sue Crawley, Trading Standards Manager at MK Council said: “Pipcyznski duped customers into thinking that they were buying their car from private seller rather than a business.
“Trading Standards seeks to protect the rights of consumers to ensure that they have the legal redress they are entitled. Hopefully this case will send a message to other traders who masquerade as private sellers that we will take robust enforcement action where necessary.”
If you want to know your civil rights in relation to a vehicle that you have purchased or any other products or services you have bought, you can contact Citizens Advice Consumer Direct on 0808 223 1133 or www.citizensadvice.org.uk.