David is the author of a guide to British cafés and snack bars. During the course of a year he travels considerable distances in his car pursuing his researches and consequently he changes his car regularly every 12 months. After three months' use David's current car develops a fault with the odometer which necessitates its replacement. When David trades the car in at the end of the year, he forgets to tell Newtown Motor Co Ltd that the car has done 10,000 more miles than appear on the odometer. Newtown Motor Co Ltd sells the car to June, who discovers a few weeks later that the mileage displayed on the odometer is incorrect. She reports the matter to the local trading standards department.
(a) Discuss the criminal liability of David and Newtown Motor Co Ltd.
(b) What defences may be available to David and Newtown Motor Co Ltd if they are prosecuted?
(c) What advice would you give Newtown Motor Co Ltd to help it avoid prosecution in the future?