A 16 month jail sentence has been handed to a used car salesman who slashed 30,000 miles off the clocks of two cars and mocked complainants.

Farman Tayebi – who was the owner of Direct Car Sales branches in New Malden and Croydon – was also banned from being a company director for five years and ordered to pay a £200 fine after having his conduct described as “thoroughly reprehensible” by a judge.

Croydon Crown Court heard how the 44-year-old had sold cars that would break down within days of being bought and with tyres that were “dangerously un-roadworthy”.

He also removed 30,000 miles off the odometer of a Peugeot RCZ and Audi hatchback in order to make sales.

The Croydon Guardian reported that, when approaching Tayebi complainants would be “laughed at” and “accused of wasting Mr Tayebi’s time”.

Eight customers gave evidence for court proceedings which saw Tayebi plead guilty at a hearing on January 11.

Speaking at Tayebi’s sentencing on Friday, Judge Sarah Plaschkes said: “The practices you deployed were designed to maximise your profits and, as I say, deny consumers their customer rights.

 “The way you carried on your second hand car business was thoroughly reprehensible.”

The prosecution said that that Tayebi’s dodgy dealings cost consumers in the region of £25,000.