Blackrock car dealer Jeffrey Beere (28) has been jailed for 12 months, for clocking imported cars from the UK. Beere pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, to falsely altering the odometers of an Audi TT, Volkswagen Golf and Audi A4 in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. He has eight previous convictions for traffic matters.

Beere sold these cars for around €20,000 each, between June and November 2008, through advertising on car sales websites. The three car buyers were at a loss of about €20,000 each, since the vehicles can't be resold in their tampered conditions.

A 2005 BMW car had been seized during a raid on Beere's home after his arrest.

Mr Dwyer defending, submitted to Judge Katherine Delahunt, that his client was handing this car over to gardai, so that its potential sale might raise some compensation for his victims.

Judge Delahunt noted Beere’s good background and education at St Andrew's College, but said he had "systematically" clocked cars and claimed the protection of "caveat emptor".