TWO car dealers arrested and quizzed as part of a trading standards fraud probe following a storm of complaints over second-hand vehicles have been released on bail.

Richard Burbage, 41, and Stan Rudgley, 31, were both detained after police and trading standards officers raided four properties in Hampshire.

Warrants were executed at three home addresses in Whiteley, West End and Curdridge at about 8am on Thursday.

Another was served at a business address in Lower Upham on the same morning at about 10am.

Daily Echo: Stan Rudgley.

 

Daily Echo: Richard Burbage. 

A third man, believed to be 20-year-old Ryan Overton, has also been arrested in connection with the probe.

He worked for the pair at Woolston Car Supermarket before it shut down in January 2014.

A spokesman for Hampshire County Council, whose trading standards officers are leading the probe, said: “All three males who were arrested on Thursday and questioned, have been released upon bail until August 4 pending further enquiries.”

The three men were released after being questioned on suspicion of offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, the Fraud Act 2006 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Their arrests follow a lengthy investigation into a series of second-hand car dealerships linked to Mr Rudgley and Mr Burbage.

It follows numerous complaints made by customers alleging that they had been sold cars that were not roadworthy, or had not been given refunds.

In January last year the Daily Echo reported on the plight of angry customers who bought vehicles from companies linked to Mr Rudgley and Mr Burbage.

Mr Burbage allegedly owes millions of dollars after the demise of his firm, We Buy Any Car, in Australia. That company copied the name of the successful British online car seller but the two are not connected.

Trading standards bosses from Southampton City Council confirmed that they were investigating last January.

By the end of February they had received 60 complaints from customers of the car dealers.

They concerned purchases from Hampshire Vehicle Sales and Woolston Car Supermarket.

Hampshire County Council’s trading standards officers then got involved after complaints from customers using online dealerships based in Botley.

  • Anyone with concerns about a vehicle they have bought can report the matter to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 or at adviceguide.org.uk.