A Belfast car trader has been found guilty of selling a clocked car and posing as a private individual in the sale of the vehicle.

Malcolm McGarrity was fined £425 plus £62 court costs at Belfast Magistrates’ Court for selling the clocked car.

In a case brought by the Trading Standards Service (TSS) of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI), McGarrity pleaded guilty to two charges under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and four charges under the Fair Trading Act 1973.

McGarrity sold the car from his home to a young customer, claiming the car had belonged to his daughter. A subsequent investigation by TSS found that McGarrity had bought the car only a few days earlier.

It was also discovered that the mileage indication had been substantially reduced. The TSS investigation also revealed that McGarrity had advertised numerous vehicles while posing as a private individual.

Peter Rankin from TSS said: “The majority of second-hand car dealers operate in an honest manner. However, there are still those who attempt to circumvent the law by selling vehicles that have had their mileage indications reduced.

“Some also attempt to conceal the fact that they are traders in an attempt to avoid their responsibilities under the Sale of Goods Act. As a result, consumers can end up paying much more than they should, while reputable dealers are placed at a commercial disadvantage.”