A Newbury retailer has begun a three-year jail sentence for fiddling car mileages at his £12m turnover independent dealership.

Philip Edgehill, sole director of prestige and 4x4 car specialist J&P Newbury, admitted a string of 19 crimes, including supplying false information to the Office of Fair Trading, brokering credit without a licence, trade descriptions offences and deception.

His company pleaded guilty to 15 similar charges and was fined £7,500. Edgehill’s victims are claiming compensation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

West Berkshire Trading Standards investigated after a tip-off that J&P Newbury was engaging in consumer credit transactions when it was not licensed to do so. It also received complaints from customers who had bought cars with incorrect mileages.

On one occasion a Land Rover Freelander arrived at the dealership with 119,000 miles recorded, but was sold with 76,000 miles showing. Edgehill had previously been convicted of clocking in 2004.

In his defence, Edgehill claimed he had not done the clocking himself.