A CAR trader in Banwell who gave false details about a camper van for sale has had to shell out £10,000.

A CAR trader in Banwell who gave false details about a camper van for sale has had to shell out £10,000.

Stuart Millard, who owns Knightcott Motors in Knightcott Road, was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £1,600 compensation after being convicted at Bristol Crown Court under the Trades Descriptions Act. He also had to pay £6,900 in costs.

The court heard how the 56-year-old displayed a sign in the front windscreen of a Talbot Express Motorhome at a camper van show in Shepton Mallet which claimed the vehicle had a 2.5-litre diesel engine. In fact the van only had a 1.9-litre engine.

A customer bought the vehicle for £11,000 in January 2005, and was given an invoice backing up Millard's claim.

However, accompanying registration documents stated it was only a 1.9 engine.

The customer asked Millard for compensation, which was never paid. The complainant then brought the matter to the attention of trading standards officers.

Millard was originally convicted in October 2006 of six offences under the Act, but the local authority withdrew three offences and Millard dropped an appeal against three convictions on October 1.

The Weston and Somerset Mercury contacted Mr Millard who declined to comment.