A HAMPSHIRE car salesman who allegedly wiped more than a million miles off just 17 cars will soon learn his fate as the jury retired to deliberate his case.

Richard Burbage, 44, (above) and two co-defendants are facing allegations of fraudulent trading following an investigation into five companies that started operating in the Southampton area.

As reported over the course of the five-week trial at Salisbury Crown Court, Hampshire Trading Standards launched a major investigation into the companies following the receipt of a huge number of complaints.

It was heard that more than one million miles were removed from the odometers of 17 “sample” cars.

During the trial jurors also heard several references to Burbage’s earlier involvement in a car-buying enterprise in Australia that went bust.

Burbage, 44, of Poplar Way, Southampton, has gone on trial with Ryan Overton, 22, of St Peter’s Close, Southampton, and Darryl Warren, 35, of Lower Derby Road, Portsmouth.

All three men pleaded not guilty to all the allegations against them that also relate to allegations of clocking cars and giving misleading descriptions of vehicles for sale.

A fourth man, Stan Rudgley, is not in the dock, having earlier pleaded guilty to fraudulent trading.

It is not known when the jurors will return with a decision.