Two directors of second-hand car companies in Warrington, Cheshire, were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on 26 February 2026 following an investigation into unfair trading. Warrington Borough Council trading standards team led the case after discovering the businesses were misleading customers about vehicle conditions, warranties and finance products.
Anthony Geoffrey Miller, 52, who was a director of Car Nation (NW) Limited, received a 20-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and is banned from acting as a company director for four years.
John Minnis, 37, a director of Nation Motors Ltd, was given six months of immediate custody for his part in the deceptive and aggressive sales. The court heard that the misconduct included taking deposits under false pretences, failing to deliver vehicles, and blocking the phone numbers of customers who tried to get in touch.
The investigation also found that the companies failed to provide vehicle service histories to buyers. Councillor John Kerr-Brown, the cabinet member for licensing, said the prosecution serves as a warning to other businesses that illegal practices will not be tolerated in the community.
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