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Jail sentence for Swansea trader who sold dangerous cars online (8 May 2017)

Date: 08/05/2017
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Jail sentence for Swansea trader who sold dangerous cars online

Swansea Council’s Trading Standards department is warning motorists to check whether cars being advertised for sale on social media and online are in a roadworthy condition before handing over any money.

The call comes after a Swansea man was jailed for selling dangerous vehicles.

Liam Arrigan, 29, of Waun Road in Morriston is starting a nine-month prison term, following an investigation by Swansea Council's Trading Standards Department.

A judge at Swansea Crown Court heard that, in August 2016, a member of the public contacted Trading Standards, after buying a vehicle from Arrigan for work. The vehicle was unsafe and needed additional money spent on it to bring it up to a safe and roadworthy standard.

Additional checks by Trading Standards revealed other vehicles being sold by Arrigan were also unsafe, due to issues with their brakes and suspension – the cars had also been involved in accidents, which had not been declared when they were advertised on social media sites, including Facebook and Gumtree.

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Thomas told Arrigan:

“Last August, you tried to sell cars that were insurance write-offs and dangerous to be driven – those vehicles presented a danger to consumers.

”This was a dishonest attempt to sell those cars to the public – even on your account, this was a reckless disregard for public safety.

“Indicative of your dishonesty, you pretended you had missed off the description of a vehicle being a write-off.”


Swansea Trading Standards Manager, David Picken, said that the selling cars using social media was on the increase – he is urging consumers to take time to ensure that they have done some sensible checks before agreeing to buy the vehicle.

“This sentence sends a clear message to people selling cars that they must do so in a responsible and organised manner – those who sell unsafe cars and mislead customers when doing so can expect to be dealt with in the same way.”

Checks should include asking if the seller is a trader or dealer and asking to see the history of the car. Prospective buyers should also ask who the last owner was – and ask to speak to them to find out why they got rid of the car and when.

They should also ask if the car has been in any collisions or has had other major repairs – and also check websites to see if the seller has sold other vehicles.

Checking feedback from other customers is recommended – and examining tyres and windscreen wipers to check their condition, as well as asking a mechanic to examine and test drive the car before buying.

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers – Public Protection Offences

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.

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

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