A HAMPSHIRE car salesman convinced an 18-year-old to allow him to open a business in his name so old associates in Australia would not be able to track him down, a court heard.

Ryan Overton took to the witness box yesterday as part of the fourth day of the defence case in a trial of car salesmen accused of fleecing hundreds of customers.

Salisbury Crown Court heard more than one million miles were removed from the odometers of 17 “cars” that represented a tiny percentage of those involved, it is alleged.

Richard Burbage, 44, of Popular Way, Southampton and his associates Overton, 22, of St Peter’s Close, Southampton and Darryl Warren, 35, of Lower Derby Road, Portsmouth have all pleaded not guilty to fraudulent trading. The charges involved four companies – Hampshire Vehicle Sales, Woolston Car Supermarket, Service 4 Life and Deltaflag.

Overton told the court he was 18 when he met Burbage, who offered him a job as car salesman earning £200 a week, with an extra £50 for each car he sold.

The jury heard after a few months Burbage asked the then teenager to be the director of a new company because he had been ripped off by his old business partner in Australia and, if he did it in his name, people would find out.

Overton said he was told if everything went well he could be earning £50,000 a year.

He added him and Burbage set up Hampshire Vehicle Sales with an accountant but did not really understand anything he was signing for the company.

He said he did not realise what a director was but understood he was responsible for the company.

Overton said he was then told to sign a document that he did not realise gave Burbage all the power and control over the company, and left him with shares worth £5.

He added Burbage and manager Stan Rudgley handled the business’ paperwork and finances as he had no idea what he was doing and that he even had to get permission to get works done on cars or to offer discounts.

The court heard, as months passed, things got progressively worse at work with people starting to make complaints and that Burbage had “lost trust” in Overton because he went through a phase of smoking cannabis.

Overton said Burbage stopped giving him his basic £200 wage, meaning he could only earn commission, so he walked out.

Prosecuting, Malcolm Gibney accepted that Overton was used by Burbage to start the company but suggested he knew what was going on and actually got fed up of covering it up. Overton said this was not the case.

The trial continues.