Crime Solicitors

West Sussex Trading Standards has prosecuted a pair of car traders found to have defrauded customers for advertising and selling hundreds of written off cars via Autotrader and Gumtree, in a scam thought to be worth £100,000.

They were also caught falsifying service histories, describing vehicles as “sold as seen” on invoices to avoid liability under civil legislation for the sale of faulty or misdescribed goods.

Lucien Munn, 54, and Linda Atrell, 51, were jailed in 2015 – and West Sussex Trading Standards have now recovered proceeds of crime from the pair.

At a Lewes Crown Court hearing in Hove on Thursday, July 27, a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) resulted in £67,000 being confiscated from Munn, who was
also ordered to pay £40,000 costs.

Atrell was ordered to pay £1,000.

After the hearing, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Stronger, Safer Communities, Debbie Kennard, said:

“At last victims affected by these case can receive some money back from the fraud they suffered at the hands of these two con artists.

“Crime doesn’t pay – and we are glad to see the courts reward the persistence of our Trading Standards officers by confiscating this money so consumers can benefit.”

West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards Team Manager, Richard Sargeant, added:

“We always encourage consumers to use traders from the Buy with Confidence scheme, the members of which are audited and approved by Trading Standards.

“Anyone who thinks they have been a victim of an unfair trading practice should contact Trading Standards via Citizens Advice.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers can advise at any stage of a public protection offence, including charges involving selling counterfeit goods, selling illicit alcohol or tobacco products, weights and measures issues, mislabelling offences, food hygiene breaches, selling restricted items to minors, breaches of health and safety regulations – and selling or offering for sale produce which fails to meet minimum quality standards.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and Duncan Lewis can advise on police raids and premises inspections by Trading Standards or local authority fraud teams.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on Confiscation Orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

For expert legal advice on public protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors’ 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.