Three “selfish and greedy” Kent men who illegally wiped more than two million miles off cars and vans in a sophisticated “clocking” scam have been spared prison.
The trio were key players in the fraud in which they massively reduced the mileage on 21 vehicles and one engine between February 2016 and 2018 to artificially boost their value.
A judge said the criminals’ “act of selfishness and greed” left the injured parties “saddled” with worn-out and damaged goods.
One victim, who was stung for more than £3,000, branded the men as “very dishonest” and urged buyers to use only reputable dealers.
Ryan Regan, 34, of Wallace Way, Broadstairs, Thomas Hamilton, 34, of Hugin Avenue, Broadstairs, and Darren Cradduck, 59, of Beech Avenue, Chartham, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud at Canterbury Crown Court today (January 24).
His Honour Judge Edmund Fowler heard how the defendants deceived 22 buyers in the criminal enterprise, carried out at premises in Sandwich, to improve the vehicles’ market value and net the gang £80,000 in total profits.
They cleared over two million miles off the clocks and then sold the motors online to customers all over the country.
CCTV footage showed Cradduck plugging in his laptop and tampering with the dashboards, giving the vehicles a mileage ‘haircut’. In 10 instances, more than 100,000 miles were wiped off and on one vehicle 163,000 miles.
But buyers soon discovered their purchases started breaking down.
Kent Trading Standards got its first lead in 2018 with a van bought by a father for his son-in-law, who had been medically retired from the army and was starting a carpentry business.
The vehicle did not make the journey home to North Yorkshire from the pick up point in Ramsgate. When the new owner complained to the seller, he was allegedly threatened with violence.
Another victim Raghu Malhotra, 57, who bought a VW Golf in 2016, but soon found it was faulty.
Mr Malhotra, of Sittingbourne, lost £3,200 when he got rid of his car in part-exchange and contacted Kent Trading Standards. But he believes it is “unlikely” he will recoup his loss.
He said: “Obviously, I am not happy about it but it’s one of those things that happens. It didn’t affect me because I didn’t let it.
“These are very dishonest people. They have caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people and they are well aware of what they have done.”
The case, dubbed Operation Blackboard, was brought by Kent Trading Standards, part of Kent County Council.
Officers who traced the vehicles back to the auction houses where they were bought found the mileage records did not tally. This was validated electronically by Kent Police.
When the gang’s Sandwich premises, The Old Boatyard, was raided they recovered sales records, fake logbooks and MOT certificates and ‘ringing’ kits, used to change the identity of a vehicle by removing the chassis number and generating new number plates.
Cradduck was also receiving requests to clock mileage on lease vehicles to avoid financial penalties for which he charged £50 each time. He even used a “cam blocker” on his own BMW which effectively stops any mileage being added.
The three men refused to comment in interviews but pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud when they appeared in court last month.
Regan and Hamilton were both given two year suspended sentences and Cradduck 20 months suspended. All were ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Fowler said: “You all bear the responsibility for the losses even if it was not shared equally.”
KCC’s cabinet member for community and regulatory services, Cllr Clair Bell, said: “This group were allowing people to drive away in potentially dangerous cars and vans, completely in the dark about their vehicle’s history. The new owners took a financial hit, unknowingly paying too much to begin with and many then having huge repair bills on top.
“The offenders’ practices also undermine trust in the used vehicle market.”
Clive Phillips, operations manager for complex investigations at Kent Trading Standards, said: “We are committed to protecting consumers and legitimate businesses, ensuring that those who engage in fraudulent activities are brought to justice.”
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