7:55 am, July 6, 2026
A former director of a used van dealership has been fined after selling a vehicle that had mileage four times higher than was originally advertised.
John Geddes, 39, pleaded guilty to two offences under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on June 26, reported Wiltshire Times.
Geddes, of Clappen Close, Cirencester, was fined £999 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,117.46 and a victim surcharge of £399, taking the total financial penalty to £2,515.46.
The case involved the sale of a Peugeot Boxer van, which was advertised with a mileage of 42,862 miles and was priced and sold for £12,950.
However, the buyer later became concerned about the van’s true mileage after an HPI check showed a discrepancy. When this was raised with Geddes, he repeatedly assured the customer that, to the best of his knowledge, the mileage was correct.
Following the sale the buyer had a diagnostic check at a Peugeot dealership, which discovers the van had actually covered around 162,528 miles – almost four times the mileage advertised.
Additional mechanical issues were also uncovered, including faults relating to the van’s emissions system.
The customer then rejected the van under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, arguing the vehicle was not as described.
However, the complaint was not resolved by the dealership, leading the customer to pursue legal action through the Small Claims Court.
The customer successfully obtained a County Court Judgment against Cotswold Vans Ltd, the company that sold the Boxer.
Enquiries carried out by Wiltshire Council Trading Standards discovered both directors of Cotswold Vans Ltd had resigned in February 2026, before the date of the sale, leaving the company without any registered directors while it continued trading.
As a result, the council said enforcement of the judgement was effectively impossible.
Following the issue of a court summons by Wiltshire Council Trading Standards, Geddes contacted the customer to arrange for the van to be collected and a refund to be made.
Paul Sample, cabinet member for public protection at Wiltshire Council, said: ‘Buying a vehicle is one of the biggest purchases many people make, and consumers have the right to expect that the information provided by a trader is accurate and trustworthy.
‘In this case, a vehicle was sold with a mileage reading that was significantly lower than its true mileage, despite concerns being raised before the sale was completed.
‘Mileage is a key factor in determining both the value and condition of a vehicle, and misleading consumers about it can have serious financial consequences.
‘This case demonstrates our commitment to protecting consumers and supporting honest businesses.
‘We will continue to take action where traders fail to meet their legal responsibilities and breach consumer protection laws.’
