The director of Sandmoor Motors in Yorkshire has been jailed for six months in relation to 26 charges including falsely advertising vehicle mileages, misdescribing unroadworthy vehicles, tampering with MoT certificates and disguising insurance write offs.
Christopher Christoforou who traded as Sandmoor Motors of 1 Leeds Road, Birstall was jailed by Leeds Crown Court last week, having earlier pleaded guilty to 26 breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.
In addition a Proceeds of Crime investigation is underway.
His prosecution followed an investigation by Trading Standards, VOSA and West Yorkshire Police after Sandmoor Motors' customers complained.
The court heard that a number of significant mileage discrepancies were found including one vehicle which had a difference of 46,000 miles.
Recorder Batiste told Christoforou that he “had chosen to ignore the warnings given by Trading Standards and had committed a catalogue of fraudulent and dishonest behaviour in order to get extra profits.
“The message has to go out that people trading in used cars and behaving in such a thoroughly dishonest way as you did, that the courts will not accept it."
An award-winning journalist and editor, with two decades of experience covering the motor retail industry, and accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) plus the National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ)
As editor of AM since 2016, Tim is responsible for its media content, planning and production across AM's multiple channels, including the website, digital reports, webinars, social media and the editorial content of AM's events, Automotive Management Live and the AM Awards. His focus is on interviewing senior leaders of franchised dealer groups and motor manufacturer national sales companies to examine latest developments in UK motor retail.
1963gpl - 30/09/2014 19:07
Our business needs to be regulated, at the moment anybody can do it.