A dodgy car dealer who ‘clocked’ the mileage on vehicles and peddled them around Wycombe has been jailed.

Paul Anthony Forster, of Fosters Lane, Binfield Heath near Henley, tampered with cars’ odometers to make the mileage appear far lower – in one case by nearly 100,000 miles.

He would then advertise the vehicles on sites like Gumtree and Auto Trader, before selling them from locations around the Wycombe area including private houses and outside MOT centres.

One vehicle advertised to unsuspecting buyers with 50,000 miles on the clock had a true odometer reading of almost 142,000.

Judge Sheridan at Aylesbury Crown Court was told that Mr Forster's systematic clocking of used vehicles dated back to 2012.

Martin Phillips, Buckinghamshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, said: “Our Trading Standards team do their utmost to protect our residents from rogue traders who are out to rip them off and, what's more, damage legitimate businesses.

“We'll take enforcement action wherever and whenever it's necessary to drive these rogue traders out of Buckinghamshire.

“My advice to anyone looking for a second-hand car is to avoid buying them from strangers in a lay-by or on waste land. If the deal looks too good to be true, it usually is.”

Forster pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading on May 26 and was jailed for six months.

He was also ordered to pay £5,000 in costs.

The case was brought by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards following an extensive investigation.

The two departments merged to form a joint service in April this year.

For guidance on consumer rights when buying a used car and what to watch out for when inspecting and test driving a car visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Those who have problems with a purchase should contact Citizens' Advice on 0345 404 0506.