As above, I'm looking at buying my first defender and the seller has limited history of the car.

Assume you checked MOT history ?

LAND ROVER DEFENDER - Check MOT History – GOV.UK (check-mot.service.gov.uk)

Looks like it had 10 years off the road just after a substantial MOT failure. Odd MOT's at that point as they weren't annual, one after 6 months. Assume it was flogged then.

ate tested
22 April 2017
PASS
Mileage
176,356 miles
Test location
View test location

MOT test number
3384 7413 5815
Expiry date
21 April 2018

Date tested
20 June 2008
PASS
Mileage
170,381 miles
Test location
View test location

MOT test number
9948 1227 8105
Expiry date
19 June 2009

Thanks!