Poole "Rogue trader" mechanic who scammed customers across the country jailed
Mark Lowe, 47, took cash up front for repairs and parts he never delivered
A "rogue trader" mechanic who scammed customers across the country has been jailed for two years and three months.
Mark Douglas Lowe, 47, from Poole, admitted running a a fraudulent business under the Companies Act.
At Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday he was sentenced for two charges of fraud by false representation with a further six offences taken into consideration when sentenced.
An investigation was launched by Dorset Police after reports that Lowe had repeatedly asked for payments up front for work on vehicles and parts and had either failed to carry out the work or supply the parts he was paid for.
In December 2024 Lowe visited the address of man aged in his 50s in Maidenhead in Berkshire who needed work on his vehicle and advised the victim the total cost of repairs would be £750. This included £350 for a new engine control unit, with the victim paying £250 in cash up front.
The victim never received the part and did not receive any response to calls and messages to the defendant.
In November 2025 a woman aged in her 60s in Wincanton in Somerset contacted Lowe after seeing his services as a mobile mechanic advertised online and arranged to him to come and repair the vehicle.
He attended and advised cash was needed up front in order to purchase new parts, with the victim paying £500 in cash.
Again Lowe never supplied the parts.
A comprehensive investigation by detectives into further reports from various parts of the country led to a further six similar fraud offences being identified, which Lowe admitted and were taken into consideration when he was sentenced.
Alongside the police investigation, Dorset Council's trading standards team investigated offences affecting 20 victims who, between April 2023 and October 2025, each lost between £400 and £3400 to Lowe who operated under the names Dorset & South West Mobile Mechanics Ltd, South Coast Mobile Mechanics Ltd and Mobile Auto Electricians Ltd.
Dorset Council say most victims lived in Dorset, but his offending covered 10 counties as far apart as Cornwall, Staffordshire and Yorkshire.
This resulted in Lowe being prosecuted for seven Trading Standards offences including fraud by false representation, fraudulent trading and aggressively pursuing a customer.
At sentencing on 24 July 2026 Mr Recorder Bebb KC said: “This was a sustained period of offending involving many victims, some of which were extremely vulnerable. You were callous in the extreme. You customers trusted you and you simply took their money causing sleepless nights and significant emotional impact.”
Cllr Nick Ireland, Leader of Dorset Council, said: "I would like to thank the victims who came forward to support this prosecution and our Trading Standards officers and Dorset Police for their thorough investigation.
"The determination of those affected helped bring this offender to justice and prevent others from being targeted in the same way.
"Many of the victims lost significant amounts of money after paying large sums in good faith for parts and repairs that were never provided, and some were subjected to abuse.
"We will always take robust action against rogue traders who exploit residents and undermine honest businesses. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts before handing over money and report your concerns as soon as possible.”
Detective Constable Nick Taylor, of Dorset Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “Mark Lowe is a rogue trader who scammed a series of customers from around the country, taking their hard-earned money without any intention of supplying the parts they had paid for or doing the work he had promised.
“By working with our Trading Standards partners, we have ensured that he has been held accountable for his deception and measures have also been put in place to limit his opportunities to target further victims in the future.”
Martin Thursby, from Dorset Council's Trading Standards, said: "Mark Lowe knew his customers all desperately needed their cars fixing but he did not hesitate in defrauding them without repairing any of their cars and leaving many in an even worse condition.
"It was clear the judge recognised the harm done by Lowe when he imposed a sentence of immediate imprisonment."
Lowe has also been disqualified from being a company director for 5 years and was also made subject to a criminal behaviour order for five years which will prevent him from working as a motor mechanic at all, either from fixed premises or at people's homes.