Bristol Crown Court heard the appeal against conviction
of Banwell car trader Stuart Malcolm Millard, who trades as
Knightcott Motors, on Monday 1 October.
His conviction was confirmed on three offences under the Trade
Descriptions Act 1968 and it cost him a fine of £500 on each
offence plus a £1600 compensation order in favour of the consumers.
In addition North Somerset Council's trading standards service was
awarded £6900 in legal costs.
The case concerns the sale of a Talbot Express motorhome which
Mr Millard claimed had a 2500cc diesel engine but in fact only had
a 1900cc diesel engine. The motorhome was offered for sale at a
camper van show in Shepton Mallet with claims that it was 2500cc.
The consumers agreed to buy the vehicle for £11,000 and picked the
vehicle up from Mr Millard’s premises in Banwell on 17 January
2005. Mr Millard had in his possession the registration document
which clearly stated the correct engine size was 1900cc.
On discovering the problem the consumers requested compensation
from the trader but this was not forthcoming. Therefore they made a
complaint to North Somerset Council’s trading standards service who
investigated the matter.