A car dealer was likened to the crooked salesman from Roald Dahl’s Matilda after he was fined for a range of offences.

Jhan Abdullah, who worked at AEE Motors Ltd, in Montrose Rose, Wealdstone, pleaded guilty to selling a car with its mileage wound back.

The 40-year-old, of Weston Drive, Stanmore, also pleaded guilty to selling an unroadworthy car at Willesden Magistrates Court.

In March 2014, he sold a Nissan Navara claiming it had done roughly 85,000 miles - when its true mileage was 175,000 miles.

When questioned by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards, Mr Abdullah admitted he was aware the vehicle had been ‘clocked’ because he had sold the exact same vehicle in the past at a much higher mileage.

He also sold a second Nissan Navara with worn brake pads and discs in May 2014. According to the Vehicle Operator and Standards Agency, the pad had been completely worn down to the metal backing plate, which was scraping the disc, with metal to metal contact.

VOSA also inspected the other vehicles for sale and found a Suzuki Jimny which had been advertised on the company’s website as having a full service history, although the car's service book had not been stamped for nearly ten years.

Although Mr Abdullah was not a director of the company, he was in charge of its day-to-day running.

The investigation was started by Brent and Harrow Trading Standards following two consumer complaints from disgruntled customers.

Councillor Varsha Parmar, who is responsible for environment, crime and community safety, Varsha Parmar said: “This salesman was more akin to the car fraudster from Roald Dahl’s Matilda, unfortunately it is real life and not from the pages of a book.

“Businesses like this deserve to be brought before the courts because all they think about is profit and pound signs before the safety of their customers.

“To trick people into thinking their car has travelled 85,000 miles when it had actually done nearly double that is just not on.

“Without this being brought to trading standards' attention and their subsequent investigation, this business could still be illegally selling vehicles that are an accident waiting to happen.”