Car clocking puts dealer in jail

Systematic clocking of used cars has landed Paul Anthony Forster with a six month jail sentence from Aylesbury Crown Court .

Mr Forster, of Fosters Lane, Binfield Heath, Henley, was also ordered to pay £5,000 costs.

The case, in whichhe admitted fraudulent trading, was brought by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards following an extensive investigation. Sentence was passed on Tuesday May 26.

Judge Sheridan was told thatMr Forster’s systematic clocking of used vehicles dated back to 2012. Heplaced advertisements on popular motoring websites, such as Auto Trader and Gumtree, and sold thecars from several locations – some private houses and others outside MOT centres.

What potential buyers didn’t know, the court heard, was that the odometers had been turned back. One vehicle advertised with 50,000 miles on the clock had a true odometer reading of almost 142,000.

Martin Phillips, Buckinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, said it wastragic that the victims of fraudulent trading were always innocent members of the public.

‘Our Trading Standards teamdo their utmost to protect our residents from rogue traders who are out to rip them off and, what’s more, damage legitimate businesses,’ he said.’We’ll take enforcement action wherever and whenever it’s necessary to drive these rogue traders out of Buckinghamshire.

‘My advice to anyone looking for a second-hand car is to avoid buying them from strangers in a lay-by or on waste land.If the deallooks too good to be true, it usually is.’

For guidance on consumer rights whenbuying a used car and what to watch out for when inspecting and test driving a car visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Consumers who have problems with a purchase should contact Citizens’ Advice on 0345 404 0506.