A fraudulent car clocker who scammed innocent Milton Keynes motorists out of almost £79,000 has been ordered to pay each of his victims back in full following the continued efforts of MK Council’s Trading Standards team.
The rogue trader, whose illegal clocking campaign saw 650,000 miles wiped from a total of ten vehicles which were falsely sold to unknowing buyers, pleaded guilty to fraud at Amersham Crown Court in September 2021, and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and required to do 240 hours of unpaid work.
Since then and following the persistence of Trading Standards Officers at MK Council, a confiscation hearing has taken place to determine that the fraudster has the available funds to pay back all ten of their victims – a figure totalling almost £80,000 – and ordered to cover the Council’s costs of £18,000.
Cllr Paul Trendall, MK Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Licensing and Regulatory Services said: “When unscrupulous traders sell cars with false mileages, they’re putting customers’ safety at risk and causing unexpected repair bills for the consumer.
“Their intentions are to deceive and defraud customers and such rogue car traders tarnish the reputation of the honest used car dealer. I’d like to thank the Council colleagues involved in this case for their persistence.”
Anyone buying a second-hand car should check the mileage history of a vehicle online at: www.gov.uk/check-mot-history.
If you have any concerns about a vehicle you have purchased, you should contact Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0345 4040506.