A CARLISLE-based used car salesman who sold an unfit to drive Seat Leon has been successfully prosecuted in Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.
Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards Service brought the charges after they received a complaint from a citizen who bought the car in October 2020.
On Thursday, October 7th, Mr. Lindsay Dalgliesh was found guilty of three offenses under the 1988 Road Traffic Act and the 2008 Consumer Protection Act and was sentenced to six months in prison.
Mr. Dalgliesh operated from a variety of locations in Carlisle including a last minute change of location to meet his customer in a nearby supermarket parking lot to hand over the car and keys for cash.
The customer relied on Mr. Dalgliesh’s knowledge of the vehicle and trusted his word when he said the car was “an excellent runner” and “was just loud”.
He claimed not to be a business – despite using various company names, a phone number for cars he had advertised, and being provided with a business card – suggested otherwise. This false impression led consumers to put their trust in his hands.
Mr. Dalgliesh regularly published social media posts in which he asked about vehicles: “Looking for engines – I buy everything, every condition, every problem, just ask, no MOT, no runner, crashed, damaged. Cash is waiting, what are you waiting for? ”
The purchased Seat Leon was inspected by a DVSA vehicle inspector who came to the conclusion that the car was not roadworthy and endangered both the occupants and other road users. He identified a number of errors including:
• The front bumper and the panel that secures the headlights were unsafe due to an impact
• The offside front wheel was unsafe and could have come loose while driving
• The exhaust system was leaking and fumes were likely to be entering the car
• The coil spring of the axle suspension was broken, which could impair safe control of the vehicle
Councilor Celia Tibble, Cabinet Member for Trade Standards, said: “This is a grave offense because knowingly selling a dangerous vehicle is a total disregard for the safety of the person buying it, other road users and pedestrians. A dealer has to sell both legal and roadworthy vehicles, otherwise they risk life. ”
The Cumbria Trading Standards advises people considering buying a used vehicle to use two government websites that provide free information about vehicles – the MOT History website and the DVLA Vehicle Inquiry website. All you need is the vehicle’s registration number.
