Gortin car dealer and sales executive plead guilty to fraud

A car dealer from Gortin, outside Omagh was today found guilty at Newry Crown Court of advertising and selling ‘clocked’ cars.

In a case brought by the Department for the Economy’s Trading Standards Service (TSS), Mr Samuel McConnell (28) of Learden Road, Gortin, director of SMC Cars & Commercials Ltd pleaded guilty to five charges under the Fraud Act 2006.

Mr McConnell was ordered to undertake 240 hours community service, to be completed within 12 months.

A compensation order was also awarded to the four victims in this case totalling £7,920, to be paid within 12 weeks.

In the same case, Mr Ryan McKittrick (24) of Bearney Road, Strabane, sales executive of SMC Cars & Commercials Ltd, also pleaded guilty to five charges under the Fraud Act 2006.

Mr McKittrick was ordered to undertake 240 hours community service, to be completed within 12 months.

The investigation arose following a consumer complaint alleging that SMC Cars & Commercials Ltd of Learden Road, Gortin was selling clocked vehicles. Investigations by the TSS revealed that the Company had sold four vehicles to consumers with reduced mileages.

Eavan Dunlop, of the Trading Standards Service said, “The number of vehicles uncovered by this investigation and the degree by which their mileages had been altered, points to a systematic ‘clocking’ operation by the two individuals. Cars were purchased with high mileages and subsequently sold to unsuspecting consumers with lower mileages.

“With the rising prices of second hand cars, it is vitally important that consumers have confidence in local car dealerships. Car traders have a legal responsibility to ensure that all descriptions applied to vehicles are accurate and not misleading to consumers. The Trading Standards Service remains committed to investigating those car traders that attempt to take advantage of consumers.”