A car dealer has been ordered to pay nearly £3,000 by a court after making false claims about a car sold to a Dudley resident.

Alan Quinn admitted misleading a Dudley car buyer about the mileage of a Renault Scenic, which was advertised as having clocked up 90,000 miles. It later transpired the vehicle had actually travelled in excess of 140,000 miles, Dudley Magistrates Court was told.

Justices heard the advert placed by Quinn also failed to say the odometer – which measures the distance travelled by a car - had been replaced in the vehicle.  The buyer contacted Dudley Council’s trading standards team after the defendant ignored their complaints.

Quinn, of Moat Gardens, Sapcote, Leicestershire, failed to attend court for the initial hearing in September 2015 and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The 53-year-old was finally brought to court last week under warrant, where he pleaded guilty to one offence on April 24 under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and was fined £650.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £1,500, compensation of £500 to the consumer and a £65 victim surcharge. Tony Oakman, strategic director, said:

“Trading standards officers investigate complaints where second hand vehicles are not described fully or accurately, because it is vital that consumers receive the information they need to make an informed choice about whether to purchase.

“We will not hesitate to take action against traders who make misleading actions or omissions which deceive the customer and may put their safety at risk.”