WARRINGTON’S Trading Standards has just finished their biggest ever investigation involving car clocking offences amounting to more than seven million miles.
John Murphy, 67, Conwy, Paul Arslanian, 38, Conwy; Christopher Graham Lunt, 39, Long Lane, Chester; Trevor Gareth Jones, 58, Colwyn Bay, and Simon Richard Williams, 49, Fluin Lane, Frodsham, were given sentences for conspiracy to commit fraud.
Sentencing took place at Liverpool Crown Court, with Murphy given three years in prison; Arslanian, two years and three months; Lunt, 20 months; Williams 18 months; and Jones, 15 months.
The defendants, who worked for PCS Events Ltd, a Runcorn-based chauffeur services company, operated a widespread system of clocking the cars in their possession.
Dave Watson, regulatory services manager at Warrington Borough Council, said: “This successful prosecution is down to a meticulous investigation carried out over a number of years by trading standards. No stone was left unturned in building this case, and it shows how trading standards are making a real difference in the fight against fraud.”
Halton Borough Council’s Trading Standards Manager, Deana Perchard, said: “Rogue traders who cause serious detriment to consumers and who use illegal means to gain competitive advantages over legitimate businesses will always be a priority for enforcement action. The sentences issued by the Court reflect the seriousness of the offences and the thoroughness of what was an incredibly complex investigation.”
Warrington and Halton trading standards began investigating in 2013 after receiving information of alleged fraud and consumer protection offences, relating to the turning back of mileages on vehicles obtained by the company.
The defendants wanted to profit from the offence through selling vehicles which had previously been on lease hire for chauffeuring purposes. Subsequent sale prices of vehicles sold by the company were inflated based upon the incorrect mileage reading.
