An unlicensed motor dealer has been sentenced to three years jail, with a twenty-month non-parole period, for trading without a motor dealers licence and withholding the proceeds of luxury motor vehicles sold through his company.
Mathew David Hale, was sentenced yesterday in the Downing Centre Local Court after pleading guilty to twelve counts of fraud, three counts of larceny, and one count of trading without a motor vehicle traders licence.
Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the prosecution was the culmination of a two-year joint investigation by NSW Police and NSW Fair Trading.
“In 2016, NSW Fair Trading issued a public warning against Hale after a huge number of complaints were received about his dodgy dealings,” Mr Kean said.
“A subsequent investigation uncovered more than $1,240,000 was owed to his customers, largely from the non-payment of consignment deals after he had sold luxury motor vehicles on their behalf.”
The court also ordered Hale pay $748,626 in compensation to his affected consumers, and a further $367,237 to the Motor Vehicle Compensation Fund.
Mr Kean welcomed the court outcome, and said it served as a strong warning that this kind of behaviour would not be tolerated.
“Fair Trading will continue to crack down on anyone found to be ripping off consumers of their hard-earned cash,” Mr Kean said.
“I want to see businesses putting their consumers first, not taking them for a ride.”
Hale has the right to lodge an appeal.
