A CAR dealer in Trethomas, Caerphilly, has been fined £12,000 for offering to supply a dangerous vehicle.

The case against Evolution Cars Limited, which trades as Evolution Cars of Newport Road, Trethomas, came to light after Trading Standards visited the premises in September last year, along with an independent motor engineer and examined vehicles offered for sale to ensure they were safe.

Tests found one of the vehicles, a 2003 Renault Clio, to be in a dangerous condition due to the fact that the hand brake on the vehicle did not work.

Company directors Osman Yasin and Tariq Mogel appeared at Newport Magistrates Court on Friday March 31, 2017, to represent their company. Evolution Cars Limited pleaded guilty to the offence, contrary to the General Product Safety Regulations 2006.

The company was fined £12,000, and also ordered to pay costs to the council totalling £1,130.15 and a victim surcharge of £170.

During the case, the court was told that Evolution Cars had received cautions in 2015 and 2016 for similar offences. The company had previously been advised by Caerphilly Trading Standard, and by Cardiff Trading Standards for another site in Cardiff, about the importance of ensuring all vehicles were safe.

The court was told that one of these occasions was just three months before this offence was committed.

When interviewed by Caerphilly Trading Standards, Mr Yasin indicated that safety checks were carried out by members of staff who had no formal mechanical training or qualifications.

In delivering sentence, the chair of the bench stated that 'the culpability in this case is high – that the company used unqualified staff to do the work of mechanics, and that they had had previous advice on their systems'. The Chair also gave credit to the company for pleading guilty, reducing the fine from £18,000 to £12,000.

Rob Hartshorn, Caerphilly's head of public protection said: 'I hope this successful prosecution will send a clear message that strict legislation and laws are in place to protect consumers, and we will take strong action where needed to ensure this legislation is enforced.'

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