Two directors of a used car business were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 26 February, following a trading standards investigation by Warrington Borough Council.
The investigation uncovered what the judge described as “systemic misconduct” in the sale of second-hand vehicles, finance products, and warranties.
Warrington Trading Standards reports the court found that customers were routinely misled, ignored, and in some cases left thousands of pounds out of pocket, with one victim describing their experience as a “nightmare”.
Misconduct included taking deposits under false pretences, failing to deliver vehicles, failure to providing vehicle service histories, and blocking customers’ numbers to avoid contact.
Anthony Geoffrey Miller, 52, was sentenced as director of Car Nation (NW) Limited, following guilty pleas to eight offences under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. These offences included:
Breaching the standards of professional diligence over a 16-month period, relating to ten different consumers
A further seven offences of misleading actions relating to the sale of used vehicles
Miller received a 20 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 250 hours of unpaid work and a 4 year director disqualification order.
John Minnis, 37, was sentenced as a director of Nation Motors Ltd, following guilty pleas to three offences under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. These offences included:
One offence for breaching the standards of professional diligence over a 16-month period
One offence of misleading a consumer and one offence of aggressive practices towards a consumer when buying second-hand vehicle
Mr Minnis received six months’ immediate custody, reduced from eight months to reflect his early guilty plea.
Both defendants accepted responsibility for the operation of the companies they ran.
Cllr John Kerr-Brown, cabinet member for housing services and licensing, said: “This case shows very clearly the harm that dishonest business practices can inflict on ordinary people. The victims suffered financial loss, emotional distress and months of frustration simply trying to get basic answers from the companies.
