A CAR trader has been prosecuted for selling an unsafe vehicle as a family car.

ALM Vehicle Sales Ltd, East Knighton, near Wareham - trading as Rainbow Car Sales - and its director Adrian Mortiboys were sentenced after each pleading guilty to selling an unroadworthy car contrary to the Road Traffic Act, and to two further offences of misdescribing the car contrary to consumer protection regulations.

Weymouth Magistrates Court heard, last week, how the Alfa Romeo 159 car was described as a 'lovely drive superb throughout' and that a statement on the customer's invoice which said 'trade sale, no warranty, sold as spares and repairs' was misleading as to customers' legal rights.

Mortiboys, aged 50, from Wellington Road, Bournemouth, and the company were each fined £1,050 and ordered to pay prosecution costs totalling £3,240.

The prosecution was brought by Dorset County Council (DCC) after an investigation by its trading standards service.

DCC cabinet member with responsibility for trading standards, Cllr Deborah Croney, said: "The sale of motor vehicles that are unsafe creates an unacceptable risk to consumers, their families and other road users.

"By providing advice to car traders on legal requirements and intervening where problems are identified our trading standards service aims to reduce that risk."

After the purchase the customer became concerned about the safety of the car and submitted it for an MOT. The car failed this MOT, prompting the customer to request a refund - which was refused.

A subsequent expert examination found the car was dangerous to drive because of extensive corrosion, and that a broken coil spring would have altered the handling, possibly leading to an accident.

When later interviewed by trading standards officers Mortiboys stood by his original description of the car, that it was 'superb throughout'.

However, in mitigation, Mortiboys' solicitor said his client had received bad advice and had since refunded the customer in full.

Cllr Croney said "Any business that is in doubt about their legal responsibilities in this area would be well advised to contact our trading standards business advice line on 01305 224702."