A DODGY car salesman has admitted tampering with the mileage on vehicles purchased by unsuspecting customers.
Kenneth Wood altered the vehicles’ odometers to make it appear they had less miles on the clock.
The 41-year-old changed the motor log books to make the car’s history accord with the false mileage it displayed.
While making a profit from the sales scam, which involved 13 cars, Wood was claiming benefits by failing to declare his true income.
At Newcastle Crown Court, Wood pleaded guilty to dishonest representation to obtain benefit and three offences of unfair commercial practice.
He asked for a further 10 offences of unfair commercial practice to be taken into consideration.
The offences he pleaded guilty to were dated between January and September last year.
Mr Recorder Jonathan Sandiford adjourned sentence until October 22 for the preparation of reports.
The judge said: “He has basically sold a car where he has applied false mileage and created documents to support the false mileage.”
Wood, of Mariville East, in Ryhope, was granted bail until the next hearing.
Recorder Sandiford told him: “I make no promises about what sort of sentence will follow in your case.”
Jamie Adams, defending, said Wood, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, suffers from ill health, which effects his mobility, and takes strong pain medication.