Jail term for Longwell Green and Hanham rogue trader

A man who pleaded guilty to fraudulently trading cars in Longwell Green and Hanham has been sentenced to 16 months in jail after he appeared before Bristol Crown Court on Friday (Friday 8 March).

Paul Cugley traded under the names of Sanmax Performance Limited in Longwell Green and South West Voyagers in Hanham, selling vehicles over the internet where he falsely described the vehicles they purchased as having a 12 month warranty, 12 month MOT, full service history or luxury extras.

He admitted to fraud and fraudulent trading offences after selling 16 cars to customers who he deceived into thinking they had features which didn't exist. He was also disqualified from being a company director, forming or managing a company for 10 years. Judge Ford described his crimes as 'confidence fraud' and said he was 'ill-equipped to be a businessman'.

The prosecution was brought by trading standards officers from South Gloucestershire Council after they received complaints from the public about Cugley's activities. He admitted making an illegitimate profit from dishonest vehicle sales when he appeared at court on January 31 where he also entered a guilty plea on behalf of his company Sanmax Performance Limited. The company was charged with fraudulent trading.

Cllr Claire Young, Chair of Communities Committee, said: "Business acting dishonestly will not be tolerated in South Gloucestershire. I strongly support the action taken by Trading Standards and I hope this investigation will act as a deterrent to other traders seeking to earn a dishonest living."