An Essex motor dealer, Ellite Carriages, has been refused a consumer credit licence by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) after it was found a director of the company had recent criminal convictions.

Ellite Carriages Ltd of Harlow in Essex, had its application for a consumer credit licence refused on the grounds that Marlon Gordon, a director of the company, was convicted on 31 October 2002 of conspiracy to handle stolen goods.

As a result, the adjudicator decided that the applicant was not fit to hold a consumer credit licence and accordingly the application was refused.

Christine Wade, OFT Director of Consumer Regulation Enforcement, said:

'Mr Gordon has been convicted of taking part in a conspiracy to handle stolen goods. As a result of this he is not suitable to provide a credit service to consumers.'

Ellite Carriages Ltd operates from 2 Maypole Street, Harlow, Essex, CM17 9JJ.