A car dealer has been jailed after “clocking” 2,750,000 miles from 32 second-hand vehicles, which he sold on to garages.

Ashley Wilson, 27, of Longfield Avenue, Fareham, Hampshire, was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court after being convicted of fraud and gaining £445,957 from the sale of the cars.

He was jailed for 45 months. Wilson was also given a further 12 months for breaching a previous suspended sentence.

Wilson was brought to court following an investigation by Hampshire County Council trading standards officers.

“Ashley Wilson was convicted on charges relating to reducing displayed mileages on 32 vehicles, commonly known as ‘car clocking’, totalling 2,750,000 miles,” a spokesman for the local authority said.

“He was also found to have falsified car service histories to hide the significant reduction in mileage.

“In total 33 vehicles were fraudulently sold to legitimate car dealers across the country through several online dealer trading platforms.

“The defendant sold the cars for a combined total of £445,957.80.”

Conviction is ‘a great result for consumers’

Councillor Russell Oppenheimer, the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, said: “This is a great result for consumers who have been protected by Hampshire Trading Standards from the illegal activities of an individual who contrived to sell on second-hand cars dishonestly through legitimate traders.

“Car clocking is a serious criminal activity that can affect anyone who buys a used vehicle in the second-hand market, and result in people paying more than the market price as well as risking further unexpected repair costs because the car has more miles on the clock than advertised.

“Our advice is to always make a few precautionary checks, no matter who you buy a used car from, to reduce the chances of buying a vehicle that’s being sold illegally, or under false pretences.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more on Sky News:
Donald Trump kept classified documents in shower, unsealed indictment shows

“This could include using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s free online vehicle checker, viewing the car’s MOT history via GOV.UK, or even paying for an independent report on the condition of the car.

“Any of these steps can reveal problems before you commit to making a purchase.”

Related posts:

Engineering work to hit rail services on first weekend after stay-at-home restrictions lifted Meghan complained about Piers Morgan before he quit TV show ‘Shameless’ Tory candidate for London mayor accused of ‘politicising’ Sarah Everard case From climate to Palestine, thousands of protesters descended on London with one common goal Insulate Britain return after 10-day break and block roads in London – police on scene Labour deputy calls PM ‘spineless and cowardly’ as MP Sir Geoffrey Cox seen working as barrister for BVIs again Collapse of Britain’s seventh-biggest energy firm Bulb confirmed – leaving taxpayers to take the strain Travel disruption continues for commuters after strike on London Underground Ex-Radio 1 DJ jailed for ‘grotesque’ child sex offences has sentence increased to 18 years ‘Rishi has my full support’: Mordaunt pulls out of Tory leadership race Toy robot left in loft for decades could fetch £10,000 at auction Man admits murdering pregnant girlfriend with scissors