Car firm ordered to pay £17k after selling dangerous Vauxhall Vectra

The Vauxhall Vectra bought from Carwise Trade Centre had faults with the steering, suspension, brakes and wipers and should not have been used on the road, Dudley Magistrates Court heard.

A couple from Welshpool bought the car from the company in Birmingham Road in September last year for £1,159.

But Dudley trading standards team found the car, which had been bought by the company from an auction, had serious faults which made it unroadworthy.

Bosses Mehraj Islam and Asif Masud appeared at Dudley Magistrates Court on Thursday and admitted seven offences under the Road Traffic Act and other legislation.

Magistrates ordered the company, which had only been trading since March last year, to pay cost and fines of £7,620.

They also ordered Islam, a director at the company, to pay £6,420 in costs and fines and Masud, a manager at the firm, to pay £3,420.

The company has now put new systems in place in make sure there is no repeat of the problem.

Tony Oakman, strategic director for people directorate at Dudley Council, said: "This is a very important case as part of our on-going trading standards work, helping to protect people and keep them safe.

"It sends out a clear warning that traders have a duty to ensure the goods they are selling are safe for people to use. If not, it could lead to a costly trip to court."

Stourbridge councillor Nick Barlow said: "I fully support the excellent work Dudley Trading Standards do on a daily basis and these two owners have rightly had the book thrown at them.

"It's very worrying that apparent legitimate businesses such as these are around and attempting to put people out of pocket. It can prove very difficult to recoup the money back and I feel for the couple involved.

"Trading standards are sending out a clear message to rogue traders that incidents such as this will not be tolerated and they will be fined accordingly."