Car Clocking Costs Man More Than £11,000

A Mitcham based car dealer who admitted carrying out ‘clocking’, illegal changes to a cars mileage display, is more than £11,000 out of pocket after being caught by undercover Merton Trading Standards officers.

Mr Gargano appeared before Wimbledon Magistrates Court on 13 March and pleaded guilty to two charges under the Trade Descriptions Act. He was sentenced to 200 hours community service, will have to pay the court costs of £1,295 and his computer clocking equipment, which is worth approximately £10, 000, was ordered to be destroyed by the council.

Merton Trading Standards caught Mr Gargano when undercover Council officers asked him to reduce the mileage on a vehicle by 64,000 miles. It took him under five minutes to carry out the crime and he charged £80.

Wendy Martin, Commercial and Trading Standards Manager said: “We are very pleased Mr Gargano has been brought to justice. Car clocking is a widespread crime and buyers of cars regularly lose out by buying vehicles that have driven more miles than thought which may mean that they’re in a bad condition. It’s good the criminal is the one who is out of pocket this time.

“Merton Trading Standards will not tolerate this criminal behaviour. We will catch those who clock cars and we will hit them where it hurts, in the pocket.”