OFT secures clocking conviction

26 October 2012  

A USED car dealer has appeared in court having pleaded guilty to mileage fraud. Colin Ogle was arrested following the OFT executing a warrant at his business premises, in an operation involving Wiltshire Police, South West Scambusters Team and the Office of Fair Trading.

On 15 October 2012 at Swindon Magistrates Court Mr Ogle pleaded guilty to, and was convicted of, five charges under the CPRs and eight charges under the Fraud Act 2006. Mr Ogle also agreed to a further 19 offences being taken into consideration when being sentenced. The matter was committed to the Crown Court for sentence.

The OFT has estimated the potential loss to consumers of illegal car clocking to be up to £580m per year. In a market study, the OFT stated a belief that legitimate instances of mileage adjustment appear to be rare, and were unlikely to be sufficient to keep in business the 50-plus traders openly offering ‘mileage correction services’ throughout the UK.