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Rogue Dudley dealer admits selling unroadworthy cars

A rogue car dealer branded the "most complained about motor trader" in part of the Black Country has admitted selling unroadworthy cars to unsuspecting motorists.

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Geoff Badlan, aged 38, claimed the cars were in good condition as he tried to flog them on internet trading websites from his two garages in Dudley.

One car, a Volkswagen Golf GTi, was found to have an insecure passenger seat which slipped forwards five minutes after a customer drove away from the forecourt.

The vehicle had a catalogue of problems including no serviceable rear mirrors, no working speedometer, two illegal tyres and a broken exhaust, Dudley Magistrates Court heard.

He also admitted misleading the customer by falsely saying the Volkswagen had a valid MOT certificate and had only had two previous owners in an advert on the Auto Trader website on September 27, 2011.

Mr Tim Holder, prosecuting on behalf of Dudley Council, said: "He is the most complained about motor trader in the Dudley borough."

He added: "One buyer came from Derby to part exchange his car after seeing a vehicle in Auto Trader. He found some issues and went to speak with Mr Badlan who reassured him if anything is found wrong it would be righted. The car had no MOT or service history, despite what the advert said.

"He drove the vehicle off the forecourt and within five minutes he experienced problems.

"The passenger seat shot forward and the brakes weren't working properly. When he went back to see Mr Badlan he was told 'You have done the deal and that is it'."

The court was told Badlan formally ran used car dealerships at West Lake Motors, in High Street, Pensnett, and Himley Value Centre, in Himley Road, near the Dudley-South Staffordshire border.

Badlan had also offered to sell an unroadworthy Mitsubishi Shogun, which was suffered from severe corrosion, on October 21, 2011.

Vehicle inspectors suspected the 4x4 would not withstand a side impact crash, the court heard.

Dudley Trading Standards said offences took place between September 2011 and May 2012.

The complaints from motorists prompted officials to launch a probe into Mr Badlan's business alongside Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and police.

Mr Holder said Badlan also advertised a Ford Ka 1.3i on Auto Trader around April 26 last year saying it "drives very well".

But Mr Holder added: "There were issues with the brakes which were not working. This vehicle was not safe."

Another of the unroadworthy cars offered for sale on March 10, 2012, was a Renault Megane Scenic with a faulty indicator which would not signal left.

A Nissian Navara Platinum 4x4 truck was falsely placed on the eBay website saying it would be supplied with 42,000 miles on the clock, the court heard.

But Mr Holder said after examining the vehicle worth around £9,000, experts estimated it could have done more than 200,000 miles.

When inspectors arrived at the car lots prohibition notices were slapped on nine other cars banning their sale including Mercedes, Vauxhall Astras and Ford Mondeos.

Badlan, who recently moved from an address in Stourbridge Road, Brierley Hill, to Hall Road, Norwich, pleaded guilty to six offences under the Road Traffic Act, 16 charges under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and two further charges under the Companies Act during a court hearing.

Chairman of the bench Mrs Jane Rymer said the matters were so serious that the case would have to be sentenced at Crown Court and adjourned the hearing. No mitigation was offered by the defence at this stage.

Prosecutors will launch a bid to secure a court order banning Badlan from trading when he is sentenced next month.

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