A 34-year-old motor trader has been banned from the car trade after admitting he lied to customers about service histories and produced a fake booklet for a vehicle sold under his business, BMG Autohaus. Max Grunfeld pleaded guilty at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday to offences relating to fraudulent trading, misleading consumers and making a false service history booklet.

He was sentenced to a three-year community order, 25 rehabilitation days and 200 hours of unpaid work. The court also disqualified him as a director for ten years and imposed a criminal behaviour order that means he cannot work in the car trade. Grunfeld must return to court every six weeks to report on his gambling addiction issue, and a proceeds of crime investigation into the money made through the fraudulent trading will follow.

The case centered on four vehicles that Grunfeld falsely advertised as having full service histories. He told two customers the documents would follow the sale, but they never materialised. In one case, he prepared and supplied a false service history booklet. During an inspection, Gloucestershire Trading Standards found discrepancies in the service history paperwork for two additional vehicles.

Paul Hodgkinson said the case showed how seriously trading standards takes any attempt to mislead or deceive customers. He said people have a right to trust that the information they are given when buying a vehicle is accurate and honest, and added that the team works hard to protect residents from unfair and fraudulent practices and will not hesitate to take action where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing.

The outcome closes the loop on a case built around a simple but important point: buyers were told they were getting vehicles with full histories, and they were not. With the trading ban, the director disqualification and the money probe still to come, the court has dealt with Grunfeld’s role in the fraud but not yet with the gains it may have brought him.