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Cameras caught out MOT fraud
CITY motorists have been left wondering if their cars are safe after a mechanic who passed MOTs without testing vehicles appeared in court.
Drivers who had their cars tested at M and P Autos, owned by Mark Pearson, are being advised to have vehicles retested if they are worried.
Pearson (45), of Crowland Road, Peterborough, was given a 50-week jail term, suspended for 12 months, at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday.
He had admitted three counts of fraud by false representation at an earlier hearing.
The court heard that, on February 4 this year, surveillance staff from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) watched Pearson give 10 vehicles MOT certificates – despite nine of the cars not being tested properly.
Many of the untested cars did not even move inside his garage in Fengate.
Judge Neil McKittrick told Pearson: “Everyone knows that vehicles of a certain age need to be tested to check road worthiness. There has to be confidence in the public.
“It doesn’t take me to say what the consequences of this could have been. It was a simple deception but with potentially wider ramifications. If you had not pleaded guilty you would have gone straight to prison.”
Motoring organisation the AA has now advised drivers to get their cars re-checked if they are concerned.
Paul Watters, head of AA public affairs, said: “I am sure there will be concerns from people who have had their cars tested there.
“If anybody’s got any doubts obviously they should have their cars checked.
“I am sure VOSA, if they have concerns, would have told customers but if people need reassurance they should seek that from VOSA.”
Niall Quinn QC, prosecuting, said VOSA launched the surveillance after receiving complaints about M and P Autos.
Mr Quinn said: “The camera started recording on February 4 and, during that day, Pearson issued 10 MOT certificates.
“However, nine of these were not tested properly. He spotted the camera the day after and the office remained closed on February 5.”
Only three of the 10 cars involved were cited in the charges against Pearson.
The first, a Renault Clio, was logged as being tested for 29 minutes, but CCTV footage revealed it never moved through the garage doors.
The next car, a Volkswagen Passat, was booked in for 47 minutes, but never moved from where the customer had parked it.
The final car, a BMW, was booked in for 53 minutes, but was never moved inside.
On all three occasions, motorists were charged up to £40 for the test.
All the drivers affected were offered a free re-test by VOSA, although the test certificates given by Pearson are, technically, still considered valid.
Defending, Matthew Radstone said Pearson had broken the law because his business was under great financial pressure.
He said: “The offences were carried out because of the stretched nature of his business, and doing this allowed him to swim rather than sink.
“His business is on the verge of collapse and he expects to declare bankruptcy in the next three weeks.”
Along with the suspended jail term, Pearson was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and pay £1,000 in costs.
He has also had his MOT licence taken off him.
VOSA Area Manager Bill Harrison said he hoped the sentence would send a message to other MOT garages.
He said: “I am very pleased with the sentence.
“It sends a clear message to the small minority in the MOT industry that, if you choose to cheat the motorist and put their safety at risk, then the full force of the law will be brought to bear on you.
“VOSA will not tolerate this.”
n For advice, contact VOSA on 0300 123 9000.
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Comments
There are 15 comments to this article
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Captain K
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 07:11 PMBig Up to Mark! Top Guy :D
boyced
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 02:52 PMthis would explain why the golf I bought had filler in the sills. After jacking the car up and having the jack go through the hole. I'm sure there will be 1000's of dangerous cars on peterborough's roads because of this man. Suspended jail sentence what a total joke. If any of fatal car crashes are caused because of this then he needs locking up.
Outcast
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 10:32 PMI use only DEDICATED MOT stations as they are not touting for other work...It makes no difference to them if your car passes or fails.
eggcraft
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 10:08 PMOn the subject of dodgy garages I went to one down fengate - can't say the name but I will give you a tip - LEWIS HAMILTON. I only went for a tyre and they offered me a FREE brakes test. Well it goes without saying that my car was not safe and need new gators and cylinders etc. I may be a woman, but I have been driving for 30 years. I was taking it for it's MOT that week to my regular garage. The man went mad when I told him. He said there was nothing wrong with the brakes and he even told me the name of the tyre and exhaust place. I never take it as gospel when told these things now, but get a second opinion. I may be a woman but I am not stupid.
Holly Golightly
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 09:41 PMLancaster; Thanks for the plug, at least you know I do talk sense behind my rubbish typing. Adolf is here with me, sat on my lap purring. Is your first name Avro by any chance? If so what do you think of Me 264?
Ken Tucky
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 09:20 PMI took my car to a main dealer in Fengate a few years ago and the brakes were described as 'dangererous' and requiring new disks and pads all round at a cost of hundreds. I was doubtful so took it to a fast fit place who said that was rubbish. The disks were wearing but had lots of life left in them. In fact I didn't change them for another year. How many people get told their tyres need changing even though they are not on the legal limit? How many people get told their brake pads need replacing even though there may be hundreds of miles left in them. I welcome VOSA's activity, but they need to start checking up on garages who are doing too much work not just none!
Outcast
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 08:51 PM@ eggcraft.. lol. It's a bug in the comments script. I forgot about it. If you click refresh before navigating away then your\my comment gets reposted !!.. (Well, That's my excuse)
Lancaster
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 08:45 PMAs a fully qualified and experienced vehicle technician, City & Guilds parts 1, 2, 3 in Motor Vehicle Technology, BTEC Automotive Engineering, Ex VOSA MOT inspector, Certificate of Professional Competence in Road Haulage, I am ashamed to say that I missed (which Holly Golightly clearly did not) the technical bulletin that announced that there is now a vehicle that is safe to drive for eight years without any sort of inspection. In the UK (that means not Germany) there is no legal requirement to have your car inspectedserviced at all, even warranty requirements are only advisory. The previous Government explored the possibility of extending the first MOT to four years and then every two years from then. MOT reports and roadside checks (real time) suggested that this was unsafe and they dropped the idea. If you have your vehicle examined by a competent person in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations, then maybe every year is excessive, but, can you be sure that all around you does? However, I do agree fully with the comment about garages failing good cars, that really does need looking into. I doubt very much that it is in the financial interest of any manufacturer to produce tyres and maybe brake pads that can last 96000miles (assuming the worst case scenario, UK national average). Anyway, must book myself back into college, been a few years since I kept up with technology, maybe Holly and Adolf can explain why I wasted nearly 21 years training.
eggcraft
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 06:36 PMIt would also appear that the return key is stuck too. lol
Outcast
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 06:11 PMThere appear to be a few people here who's keyboard would fail an IT M.O.T.... Their caps lock appears to be stuck on.
Outcast
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 06:11 PMThere appear to be a few people here who's keyboard would fail an IT M.O.T.... Their caps lock appears to be stuck on.
Holly Golightly
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 05:50 PMThese MOTs are a waste of time for any car under eight years old. Money for old rope as you say. so it is not surprising garages do not take them seriously. When English cars were built of rubbish qand put together by idiots the MOT was probably necessary, but these days most cars are made in either Germany or France and do not need to be tested. Of course Toyota cars should be tested every six months just to see if they are still safe.
RMS_70
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 05:39 PMWHAT ABOUT CRACKIN DOWN ON THE GARAGES THAT FALL A CAR FOR NO GOOD REASON ACCEPT GREED
RMS_70
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 05:39 PMWHAT ABOUT CRACKIN DOWN ON THE GARAGES THAT FALL A CAR FOR NO GOOD REASON ACCEPT GREED
hissing cyd
Monday, August 30, 2010 at 03:41 PMBEING GIVEN A SENTENCE AND THEN DEFERRING IT ALSO GIVES THE WRONG IMPRESSION. I KNOW THAT IF HE IS CAUGHT AGAIN IN ONE YEAR HE WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE THE FULL SENTENCE. BUT MANY READING THIS KIND OF THING DO NOT KNOW THIS.
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