THE hunt is on for a serial car fraudster who wound back almost three million miles from internal clocks before selling on the old motors.

Between 2011 and 2014 Ali Ashagar Hajivandi sold a number of cars with false mileage and accompanying false documents including counterfeit MOT and insurance certificates.

The 37 year-old was brought to the attention of Trading Standards Service by a Wokingham resident who fell foul of the rouge trader - buying a vehicle to later find out it had been clocked.

In September 2016 Hajivandi, formerly of Pump House Court in Brentford, Middlesex, entered guilty pleas to fraud, making false instruments and money laundering offences.

Despite being sentenced to five years and six months by Recorder Rhona Campbell at Reading Crown Court two months later, Hajivandi absconded.

On June 16, 2017 a confiscation order was made for £414,176, the total benefit of Hajivandi's crimes.

If he does not pay the money within three months, a further four years will be added to his sentence.

Councillor Norman Jorgensen, Wokingham Borough Council's chair of the joint public protection committee, said: “Mr Hajivandi faces a stiff custodial sentence if and when he is eventually located.

"The sentence and subsequent confiscation sends a clear message to anyone thinking of engaging in this type of criminal activity.

"We would urge anyone who has concerns about a car they have bought to come forward and let us know.”

Email tsadvice@westberks.gov.uk or call (01635) 519930