A TRADER specialising in Audi TTs clocked thousands of miles off cars and altered MOT certificates before selling the unroadworthy vehicles to unsuspecting customers.
Dealer Alexander Harvey and mechanic Amit Mistry were both jailed after what a judge at Warwick Crown Court described as ‘a meticulous investigation’ by Warwickshire Trading Standards.
Harvey, 28, of School Lane, Priors Marston, near Southam, who had pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud, two of making or adapting articles for use in fraud, and two consumer protection offences, was jailed for 12 months.
Mistry, 38, of Timken Way, Daventry, was jailed for six months, after he had admitted two offences of making or adapting articles for use in fraud.
Prosecutor Tony Watkin said Harvey concentrated on the sale of Audi TT cars, trading as Alex Harvey Specialist Cars.
Mistry was a mechanic who began running a business called Car Teck Vehicle Solutions at premises in Daventry, in 2010.
Mr Watkin explained Harvey, who the court was told operated at ‘the bottom end’ of the market, sold vehicles at inflated prices which then soon developed faults.
And on two occasions he and Mistry were involved in fabricating or altering MoT certificates or service records to back up his bogus descriptions of cars he was selling.
Trading standards investigators became involved, and when they carried out a test purchase they were sold a Peugeot which had previously been written off and was found to be unroadworthy.
Matthew Brook, for Harvey, said since the matters came to light two years ago, Harvey has continued trading ‘quite lawfully.’
Laura Hobson, for Mistry, said he had cut his ties with Harvey, given up his business and was now unemployed.
