South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 04/02/2013

Paul Cugley, a former South Gloucestershire resident who now lives at Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, Sandy Bay in Devon 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 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.

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.”

Mark Pullin, Strong, Safer Communities Manager at South Gloucestershire Council, added: “The majority of traders working in this field are responsible business owners who are trying to make a living but there are a minority who act irresponsibly and it is these traders who we will target and prosecute where necessary.”

Sentencing is due take place at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 8 March.