Rogue Car Dealer Back in Business Despite History of Selling Written-Off Vehicles...

teessidetoday
May 7
3 min read

Mark Woodall, was formally running the business "Marwoods Trade Centre"

A car dealer with a history of dishonesty convictions dating back to 2009 is said to be back in business once more, just three years after seeing numerous customers ripped off for thousands of pounds for vehicle's that had been sold to customers, but not disclosed they were written off ...

7th May 2025

Car buyers across the North East are being warned to remain extremely vigilant when purchasing vehicles online, after it's emerged a rogue trader with a long history of dishonestly selling vehicles that were insurance write-offs is back in business.

Mark Woodall, was previously convicted at Teesside Crown Court back in 2021 for selling vehicles which were declared as 'written-off' to customers without disclosing them as such, with Woodall said to be trading once again—this time under the name N AND S Car and Van Sales Limited via online platforms such as eBay.

Woodall was sentenced in 2021 for selling vehicles that were previously written off by Insurance Companies but not disclosed to customers who then bought them !

Woodall was sentenced in September 2021 at Teesside Crown Court for a string of offences while operating under the previous business name Marwoods Trade Centre. During that hearing, Judge Deborah Sherwin imposed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years, alongside 200 hours of unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity days, with Woodall ordered to repay thousands of pounds to his victims. He then dealt his victims one final blow after then liquidating the car business he used to rip off his customers, leaving his victims out of pocket...

A Persistent History of Fraud !

The New Business N&S Car and Van Sales Ltd is trading from the same address as the previous Company Marwoods Trade Centre

Woodall’s offences under his previous business name reportedly involved the sale of at least nine insurance write-offs, disguised as legitimate used cars. In one case, its claimed a couple paid £1,100 for a Peugeot 107 for their daughter, trusting that a dealership would have verified the car’s history. Only after purchase discovering it was a write-off. When they approached Woodall for a refund, he refused.

Another victim paid £1,995 for a Vauxhall Astra, similarly unaware of its written off status. In both instances, the court ordered Woodall to repay the full amounts to the customers, in addition to £2,615 in court costs.

Alarmingly, its claimed this wasn’t Woodall’s first brush with the law, following the disclosure in court that Woodall had a previous conviction back in 2009 for similar dishonest practices.

Deceptive Listings Reappear Online

All of the vehicles being sold have their numberplates covered thus not allowing potential buyers to check their history..

Now, despite his criminal past and the supposed "ruin of his reputation"—as claimed by his legal team during sentencing—Woodall appears to be back in the motor trade, with Investigators from Durham & Teesside Today discovering a number of vehicles listed for sale on eBay under his new company name.

Worryingly, many listings still hide the vehicles number plates, effectively preventing buyers from running their own background checks on the vehicles before purchase...

Its claimed at the time of his 2021 conviction, it was found that none of the 51 cars he had for sale were labelled as write-offs, despite nine of those vehicles being confirmed as such. The concern now is that the same practices may be occurring again—this time through the anonymity of online marketplaces.

A Warning to the Public

Consumer watchdogs and local residents are calling for urgent scrutiny of Woodall’s current business dealings, warning that unwitting buyers could once again fall victim to his deceptive tactics.

If you’re in the market for a second-hand car, particularly from online platforms, always insist on seeing the full vehicle history report, and be wary of sellers who hide or obscure number plates. A genuine dealer will have nothing to hide one motoring expert told Durham & Teesside Today..

This case is a stark reminder that a slick listing and professional appearance do not guarantee integrity—and that past offenders can and do return to the trade, often with a new name and the same old tricks.