Two partners in a Renault dealership in Shropshire have been jailed for conspiracy to defraud customers, creditors and finance companies of more than £600,000 over a three year period.

Martin Charles Thomas (52) and Anthony George Jackson (60), partners in Martin Thomas Cars, of Bridgnorth, Renault agents, admitted fraud charges when they appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

The court was told that the two sold cars without paying outstanding finance, obtained finance on vehicles they had sold to other people and failed to register sales with the DVLA. The crimes were said to have been committed between January 1994 and June 1997.

In mitigation the court was told that the Thomas and Jackson had resorted to fraud when their business began to suffer cash flow problems.