Issued By
West Yorkshire Trading
Standards Service

CLOCKED CARS SOLD BY ROTHWELL MOTOR DEALER

 

 David Matthew Large, a motor dealer trading from several private addresses in Rothwell, Tingley and Outwood, on 3rd September in Leeds Crown Court pleaded guilty to the supply of 8 clocked motor vehicles and guilty to a further count of obtaining £7,000 by deception. The case was brought by West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service following an investigation lasting over six months.

The vehicles, which were all high mileage ex-fleet vehicles, had their odometers wound back by a total of 475,000 miles. Each had been advertised in the Yorkshire Autotrader as having a “full service history” (FSH).  In reality Large handed falsified service documents to each innocent purchaser.

Mr Large’s motor trading activities came to attention of the Trading Standards Service after a complaint was received from a Police Officer who had purchased a T registered Citroen Xantia from an address in Batley Road, Tingley. The vehicle, which had 42,000 miles on the clock, had in fact travelled 123,000 miles. The officer returned the car to Large for a full refund, but Large supplied it a second time a fortnight later deceiving a Doncaster pensioner using the same falsified service book.

Further enquiries revealed Large had supplied a further 7 clocked vehicles: 2 from a private address in Outwood, Wakefield and five from an address in Rothwell. The offences occurred between 1 December 2023 and 23 August 2001.

Large entered his pleas on the basis of having knowledge that all the vehicles had been clocked, without admitting either that he carried out the clocking or arranged for it to be carried out. The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report. His Honour Judge R. Bartfield warned Large that a custodial sentence was likely. Mr Large will be sentenced at a future hearing to be set in due course.

Martin Wood, Chief Officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service commented, “This should send out a serious warning to all those involved in deception in the motor trade, that the Trading Standards Service is committed to bringing them before the courts to face custodial sentences as well as heavy financial penalties”

For further information please contact:

 

David Lodge                         Principal Trading Standards Officer 0113 2898243

Andrew Bibby                       Call Centre Manager 0113 2898237

Graham Hebblethwaite        Divisional Manager / General Media Contact 0113 2898218

 

Notes for Editors:

 

West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service operates a “Motor Trade Partnership” scheme with over 100 member garages, covering new and used car sales as well as servicing garages. By dealing with a partnership member, consumers can feel confident of the accuracy of descriptions of vehicles and in the event of any problems the matter will be dealt with fairly. Details of members can be obtained from the Service’s website: www.ts.wyjs.org.uk or by contacting the West Yorkshire Consumer Helpline on 01133 848 848, who can provide a list of members in the area.