Borough's worst car trader sentencing adjourned (From Dudley News)

Borough's worst car trader sentencing adjourned

4:30pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News

A ROGUE borough car dealer who sold a string of death trap vehicles from his Dudley pitch has been given the chance to get help for his defence with the threat of a jail term hanging over his head.

Geoff Badlan was branded the worst car trader in the borough after Trading Standards received 36 complaints from angry customers after they bought unroadworthy vehicles from the Himley Value Centre.

The 39 year-old who lived in Stourbridge Road, Brierley Hill was set to be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court today on a total of 26 charges relating to the crooked sale of cars from his Himley Road and Pensnett High Street car lots.

But Judge Michael Challinor further remanded him on bail until March 21 so he could seek legal representation because it was clear he was facing time behind bars for his activities.

The judge told Badlan: "It looks to me, from what I have read, that this case easily crosses the custody threshold. Your position is quite serious and the court could imprison you immediately."

He warned Badlan: "What you must understand is that if you are not represented when you come back to court your case will still be dealt with. There must be some closure in sight and I will give you this last opportunity."

Mark Jackson prosecuting told the judge they were clearly aware of the predicament faced by Badlan as he stressed the costs in the case already amounted to £20,000 and they were continuing to rise.

Badlan who now lives in Hall Road, Norwich has pleaded guilty to six charges under the Road Traffic Act, sixteen offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and two under the Company Act.

Dudley Magistrates had been told at an earlier hearing that Badlan mislead the public with false Auto Trader adverts with many of the vehicles not matching up with information in the magazine, with false information including the number of previous owners, service history and different mileages.

Badlan told Judge Challinor he would welcome an adjournment to get a Barrister to represent him and maintained he would be able to pay within three weeks because he expected to "come into some money."