A CAR dealer has been fined for selling a vehicle in such a dangerous condition to a Stratford resident it was highly likely a wheel could come off.
The Renault Koleos was purchased from Sensible Attractive Motors Ltd in Brierley Hill, owned by 51-year-old Zbigniew Stanislaw Samuel.
The car was advertised as ‘drives great’ and ‘inspected and approved by authorised garage’.
But the new owner complained to Warwickshire Trading Standards after taking the vehicle to a local garage and being told the car was unroadworthy.
Officers investigated and asked an expert vehicle examiner to inspect the car. He found that the vehicle had missing and loose wheel nuts and concluded that it was highly likely the wheel would have become detached if the car was driven.
The car also had other faults that made it unroadworthy, including disconnected front suspension anti roll bar links, debonded front suspension bushes, a faulty airbag and seatbelt system, and an insecure and broken headlight.
Warwickshire County Council’s community safety spokesperson Coun Andy Crump said: “It is unacceptable that car dealers are selling vehicles to Warwickshire consumers that are dangerous to drive.
“Our trading standards team will continue to take action to protect all road users.”
At Coventry Magistrates Court on Monday January 15, Mr Samuel, of Acacia Close, Dudley, pleaded guilty to three offences. The magistrate stated that this was a serious matter and fined Mr Samuel £1,500. He was also ordered to pay £1,000 prosecution costs and a £150 victim surcharge.
In mitigation, Mrs Jenkins of Waldrons Solicitors, defending, stated that this was her client’s first criminal offence and he took full responsibility for the sale.
