Car dealer 'blackmailed to commit frauds'

Olwen Dudgeon

A CAR dealer, who bought vehicles to sell on using cheques that bounced, was desperate to make money because he was being “blackmailed” by a criminal gang, a court was told yesterday.

Paul Zito was told to pay up or they would harm him or his family, his counsel Robin Frieze told Leeds Crown Court.

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He had already been the victim of a robbery when he was injured and had to have a metal plate inserted in his head, so genuinely feared further violence.

“There was never any chance he would escape detection,” said Mr Frieze. “But the gang brought him to a desperate stage where he could not see any way out of his difficulties.”

Stephen Grattage, prosecuting, said Zito was known as a car dealer and trusted when he made out cheques for five cars in Sheepscar, Leeds in January.

Zito, 28 of Halifax Old Road, Birkby, Huddersfield, admitted fraud and was sentenced to 52 weeks in jail suspended for two years with 300 hours’ unpaid work. He must also pay 15,146 compensation and 2,000 costs.

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