News Used-car dealer given 12 months imprisonment for mileage scams ISTVAN CSAK / SHUTTERSTOCK Warwickshire Trading Standards was praised in court for its meticulous investigation by a judge who jailed a used-car dealer for 12 months after he admitted clocking and misdescribing cars. Connan Alexander Harvey, 28, of Alex Harvey Specialist Cars, Priors Marsden, admitted the offences, and failing to act with professional diligence, at Warwick Crown Court last month. Mechanic Amit Mistry, 38, who was prosecuted for the forging and fabrication of vehicle documents to conceal the crime, was sentenced to six months in prison. Sentencing both men, Judge Alan Parker asserted that used-car sales should be entitled to the same level of protection as new or nearly-new car sales. By creating false MOT certificates, said the judge, Harvey was undermining the integrity of the MOT system. Judge Parker added that Warwickshire Trading Standards had conducted a meticulous investigation and had prosecuted the case in an exceptionally diligent way. Harvey sold used Audi cars from a private address and advertised them on popular used-car and auction websites. In November, he admitted to arranging for the mileage reading to be wound back on an Audi TT from 101,369 to 72,299 before it was sold, and selling another Audi TT knowing that the mileage advertised as 79,000 was in reality 147,464 miles. Harvey described a third vehicle he sold as having good tyres, a new cam belt and a 12-month MOT. The buyer later found that none of these statements was true. Warwickshire Trading Standards investigated Harveys business after receiving numerous complaints from customers between November 2012 and February 2014. Sweet testing shows need to improve food standards Food testing in Derby has revealed that undeclared ingredients may be present in Indian sweets highlighting the need for some retailers to improve food standards. Derby Trading Standards has highlighted the issue after food testing at five premises uncovered unsatisfactory samples though 70 per cent of retailers were selling satisfactory products. The food testing, which was funded by the Food Standards Agency, revealed two samples that contained undeclared almonds and peanuts, and one that contained more than the permitted amount of Ponceau 4R (E124) red food colouring. Baggy Shanker, Derbys cabinet member for regulatory services, expressed concern that businesses were unaware of the ingredients in their products. If someone consumes food they have been told is nut-free and then suffers an anaphylactic shock, the consequences can be fatal. Fakir Osman, principal trading standards officer, said: We will be advising the business on the limits of Ponceau 4R (E124), and to consider using an alternative. Businessman jailed after targeting vulnerable people AXL / SHUTTERSTOCK A Cambridge-based garden-business owner has been jailed for six months after being found guilty of fraud and aggressive practice towards vulnerable residents. Thomas Twinley, 38, of Cambridge, was found guilty in February of six counts of fraud and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations offences, including aggressive practice, giving a misleading price, a misleading business association, false address and not offering cancellation rights. Cambridge Crown Court heard how Twinley misled one customer by falsely claiming association with a well-known local business, calling himself Notcutts Tree and Garden Services, and overcharging by 400. The court also heard how an elderly couple were aggressively pressured into having work done on their drive. In December 2013, Twinley circulated a leaflet claiming his firm was part of Notcutts and, under this claim, agreed a price of 90 with householder Paul Crosfield. Mr Crosfield was not informed that he could cancel the contract, and was then charged 490 on completion ofthe work. When Twinley would not accept a bank transfer to the well-known business, the resident contacted Notcutts, which demanded that Twinley change the name of his business. Under the new name Green Thumb Tree Services, Twinley agreed tree-trimming work with an elderly couple in December 2014. No paperwork, written quote, or information about cancellation rights was provided, despite trading standards stating on several occasions that this was required. Trimley then undertook aggressive practices to pressure the couple into resurfacing their drive for 2,000, including marking the driveway up, repeatedly ringing and falsely claiming work had already started. Frank Pasfield, trading standards officer for Cambridgeshire, said: It is disappointing that despite coming to our attention before on similar matters, Mr Twinley has continued to carry out his trading activities in a fraudulent manner. We welcome this sentence, which sends a strong message to fraudsters who try to prey on vulnerable people. Counterfeit goods seller fined and sentenced A Bedfordshire man has appeared in court after a raid by trading standards uncovered a garage full of counterfeit goods. Wayne Gutteridge, 23, of River View, Shefford, faced Luton Magistrates Court in February, and admitted three offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994. He was sentenced to a twomonth community order, made the subject of a curfew between 6pm and 6am, with the exception of Fridays, ordered to pay 2,000 towards prosecution costs, and a 60 victim surcharge. The raid by Central Bedfordshire Trading Standards in December 2014 found counterfeit clothing, footwear and handbags in a garage in Shefford. Gutteridge had claimed that he didnt realise they were illegal to sell. A film crew from BBC One show Fake Britain accompanied the trading standards team and recorded the raid.