A rogue trader in Leicestershire has been sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of selling unsafe vehicles from his garage. Lee David Graham Irons, who operated a business named Affordable Cars in Thurcaston, was found guilty of 14 counts of fraudulent sales during a trial at Leicester Crown Court, which took place at Loughborough Magistrates Court. The jury delivered unanimous verdicts following three weeks of proceedings.
Irons, of Hanover Drive in Sileby, faced numerous complaints from customers who had purchased cars that soon proved to be problematic. One client returned a vehicle just a day after buying it but was denied a refund, with the car subsequently resold. Other buyers discovered that service histories and MOT certificates had been forged. According to Leicestershire County Council’s trading standards team, they received complaints linked to 12 vehicles purchased from Irons, with investigations revealing that some were “unsafe or unroadworthy”.
During a visit to Irons’ premises, Trading Standards officers noted several unsafe vehicles still advertised for sale. This was not Irons’ first encounter with the authorities; he had previously received a suspended sentence in November 2020 for similar offences. The continuation of his criminal activity while under a suspended sentence resulted in an additional four months of imprisonment to be served consecutively with his three-year sentence.
In delivering the sentence, His Honour Judge Robert Brown stated, “You were running a thoroughly dishonest business. You were cheating your customers. You were providing a service which was not just unprofessional, it was clearly fraudulent.” The judge noted the absence of remorse in Irons’ defence, highlighting his persistent accusations against witnesses, claiming they were lying or had committed forgery.
Taking into consideration Irons’ family situation—he is a father of two—the judge acknowledged his desire to abandon the motor industry and return to plumbing, yet emphasised the seriousness of his offences.
Judge Brown commended the efforts of Leicestershire Trading Standards, recognising the challenges they face in conducting such investigations with limited resources compared to the police. He remarked on the commendable work done by the investigative officers in the case.
Gary Connors, head of regulatory services at Leicestershire County Council, commented on the implications of the ruling, stating that repeat offenders could expect stringent responses from Trading Standards. He remarked that “this sentence sends a clear warning: those who commit fraud—often hiding behind fake businesses—could face prison. Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards won’t hesitate to crack down on this kind of shameless and dishonest behaviour.”
Source: Noah Wire Services