Shropshire Star

Businessman convicted at trial

A Shropshire businessman has been ordered to pay more than £24,000 after he was convicted of selling motor homes on credit without a licence. A Shropshire businessman has been ordered to pay more than £24,000 after he was convicted of selling motor homes on credit without a licence. Lester John Stacey, who runs the Lazy Days motor home sales firm on the A41 at Hinstock, was found guilty of two charges of engaging in credit brokerage without a licence. But the 43-year-old from Eccleshall was cleared of four other similar charges, as well as one count of conspiracy, all between June and December, 2004. Yesterday, at Shrewsbury Crown Court, Judge Nicolas Mitchell ordered Stacey to pay the full pro-secution costs of £22,300 as well as fines of £1,000 for each of the two convictions. Read the full story in the Shropshire Star

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A Shropshire businessman has been ordered to pay more than £24,000 after he was convicted of selling motor homes on credit without a licence.

Lester John Stacey, who runs the Lazy Days motor home sales firm on the A41 at Hinstock, was found guilty of two charges of engaging in credit brokerage without a licence.

But the 43-year-old from Eccleshall was cleared of four other similar charges, as well as one count of conspiracy, all between June and December, 2004.

Yesterday, at Shrewsbury Crown Court, Judge Nicolas Mitchell ordered Stacey to pay the full pro-secution costs of £22,300 as well as fines of £1,000 for each of the two convictions.

He said: "Whatever your feelings about trading standards, these provisions are important as they are there to protect the public.

"The buck stops with you because you run the business and you are the captain on the bridge. You have got to comply with the law."

The court had previously heard Stacey had made more than £1 million selling motor homes on credit without a licence.

His company's Consumer Credit licence had expired while he was in prison from December 2003, after being convicted of false imprisonment and assault.

Tracey Henney, 37, of Tillington in Staffordshire, an employee of Stacey's, was also convicted on two counts of engaging in credit brokerage without a licence.

The jury also convicted her of one charge of giving false information to the Office of Fair Trading.

Henney was acquitted of four other charges of engaging in credit brokerage without a licence.

She was fined £250 for giving false information, but given no separate penalty for the other counts.

Stacey and Henney had denied all the charges brought against them.

Neil Taylor, of Pioneer Way, Stafford, also employed by Stacey at Lazy Days, had previously admitted six charges of engaging in credit brokerage without a licence.

The 34-year-old was ordered to pay fines of £150 for each of the offences, totalling £900.

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