A MOTOR dealer in Ham has been hit with a penalty of nearly £8,000 after a joint prosecution by Richmond and Sutton Trading Standards.

Kamran Rassapour admitted a series of offences under the Trade Description Act. The offences came to light following a complaint to Richmond Trading Standards and an immediate investigation began.

Mr Rassapour admitted supplying a vehicle with a false mileage while trading as Prestige Motors in Ashburnham Road.

He supplied a Range Rover with a mileage of 65,000 miles when the vehicle had actually travelled approximately double that distance, a breach of the Trade Description Act 1968.

He admitted other related offences whilst trading in Sutton when he appeared before Sutton Magistrates' Court on March 18.

Rassapour, 46, was fined a total of £4,600 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs.

The leader of Richmond council and cabinet member for combating crime, Cllr Tony Arbour, said: "When this complaint was made, our Trading Standards officers launched an immediate investigation and, in partnership with their counterparts in Sutton, a series of offences came to light.

"We are pleased that the court handed down a hefty fine. This acts as a warning to others that such offences won't be tolerated. You will be caught."

Anyone who wishes to make a complaint about a Trading Standards matter in Richmond upon Thames should call the hotline number on 020 8891 7770.