Used car dealer found guilty of selling 'dangerous' vehicle
A used car dealer from Teignmouth has been found guilty of supplying a dangerous and unroadworthy vehicle with faulty brakes.
Jamie Stuart Rabin, 36, of Bank Street, Teignmouth, was ordered to pay a total of £6,594.25 in fines, costs, victim’s surcharge and compensation at Plymouth Magistrates Court on Thursday 8 June.
Rabin, who changed his plea at the last minute, sold the Renault Trafic Van in 2016 from his dealership, Finnish Car Sales, in Dawlish.
He also admitted misleading a customer into believing repairs had been carried out and claimed he had replaced the cambelt when he hadn’t.
The successful prosecution follows an investigation by Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service.
The court heard that the vehicle had ‘serious’ braking and suspension defects, as well as a missing wheel bolt.
An independent motor vehicle engineer, called in to assess the vehicle, said that the van was ‘unroadworthy’, ‘dangerous’ and presented a risk to the driver, passengers and other road users.
Rabin, who has traded from a number of premises throughout South Devon, admitted to offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Councillor Stuart Barker, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills with responsibility for Trading Standards, said: “The motor trade is a key priority area for our service. We work closely with legitimate traders to provide advice and support to help maintain standards.
“Unscrupulous traders like Rabin give little consideration towards public safety and undermine confidence in legitimate traders trying to make an honest living, and we will not tolerate it.
“Where appropriate we will prosecute.”
Councillor Robert Excell, Torbay Council’s Executive Lead for Community Services with Responsibility for Trading Standards, said: “Supplying unroadworthy vehicles not only endangers the occupants of the vehicle but could have had serious implications for other road users.
“Rabin’s unethical behaviour could have put lives at risk. He was prepared to sell a vehicle with braking defects and he showed no consideration for the safety of the customer. He misled the consumer into believing that repair works had been carried out.”
Councillor Anna Groskop, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate and Community Services with responsibility for Trading Standards, said: “I’m pleased that our trading standards service prosecuted this rogue trader, which is largely thanks to the readiness of the victim to report their complaint.
“If you are thinking of buying a used car we recommend using our Buy with Confidence scheme to find a business that we have vetted and approved.”
For more information on the work of the Service, including our trader approval scheme ‘Buy With Confidence’ please visit http://www.devonsomersettradingstandards.gov.uk/
