Selling a dangerous vehicle has cost a West Cumbrian car dealer more than £4,000.

West Cumbria Magistrates Court in Workington heard that Dennis Steven Evans, 57, of Church Cars, Preston Road, Whitehaven, sold a Ford Focus with major structural defects to a local customer in March 2018.

The problems included excessively corroded brake pipes, seat belt anchorage points and suspension.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency examined the vehicle and immediately prohibited its use on the road.

Evans was found guilty of selling a dangerously defective car.

He was fined £1,746 and ordered to pay £2,444.38 legal costs and a £120 surcharge.

Councillor Celia Tibble, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member responsible for Trading Standards, said: "This is a serious offence which could have put the lives of the vehicle occupants and other road users and pedestrians at risk. Attempting to sell a car in such a poor state demonstrates a complete failure of responsibility by the business."

Cumbria Trading Standards advise people who are considering buying a second hand vehicle to use two Government websites that provide free information about vehicles - the MOT history website and the DVLA’s vehicle enquiry website . You only need the vehicle’s registration number.

Cumbrian residents wishing to make a complaint about a vehicle they have purchased can call the Citizens Consumer Advice Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk

After the case Evans said he would appeal the conviction.