– Two company directors sentenced for widespread misleading sales practices.
– Customers were misled, ignored and left thousands of pounds out of pocket
– One director jailed for six months
– Two company directors sentenced for widespread misleading sales practices.
– Customers were misled, ignored and left thousands of pounds out of pocket
– One director jailed for six months
Two directors of used car businesses have been sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court following a trading standards investigation by Warrington Borough Council.
The “complex and prolonged investigation” uncovered what the judge described as systemic misconduct in the sale of used vehicles, finance products and warranties.
At a February 26 hearing, the court heard that customers were routinely misled, ignored, and in some cases left thousands of pounds out of pocket, with one victim describing their experience as a “nightmare”.
Misconduct included taking deposits under false pretences, failing to deliver vehicles, failure to providing vehicle service histories and blocking customers’ numbers to avoid contact.
Investigation exposes “misleading actions”
Anthony Geoffrey Miller, 52, a director of Car Nation (NW) Ltd, was sentenced following guilty pleas to eight offences under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
These offences included: breaching the standards of professional diligence over a 16-month period relating to ten different buyers and a further seven offences of misleading actions relating to the sale of used vehicles.
Miller received a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 250 hours of unpaid work and a four- year director disqualification order.
John Minnis, 37, was sentenced as a director of Nation Motors Ltd, following guilty pleas to three offences under the same regulations.
Those offences included: one offence for breaching the standards of professional diligence over a 16-month period; one offence of misleading a consumer and another offence of aggressive practices towards a consumer when buying used vehicle.
Minnis received six months’ immediate custody, reduced from eight months to reflect his early guilty plea. Both defendants accepted responsibility for the operation of the companies they ran.
The prosecution’s applications for compensation for victims and costs have been adjourned pending a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Cllr John Kerr-Brown, cabinet member for housing services and licensing at the council, said: “This case shows very clearly the harm that dishonest business practices can inflict on ordinary people. The victims suffered financial loss, emotional distress and months of frustration simply trying to get basic answers from the companies.”
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