Rogue car dealer convicted after selling dangerous vehicle twice

A car dealer has been sentenced after being convicted of selling the same dangerously defective car on two separate occasions.

Stephen Hickman, 63, received a 13-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting to selling an unroadworthy Subaru Forester twice.

Hickman, who was trading under the name "Shelby’s of Netherton" on Halesowen Road, Netherton, was first convicted in March 2022 for selling the car, which was described as a "death trap."

Following his initial conviction, Hickman was ordered to refund the buyer £3,500. However, instead of ensuring the vehicle was safe or scrapping it, Hickman conducted minimal repairs and resold the car in April 2022 for £800 more.

The vehicle, falsely advertised as having "no nasty surprises" and described as driving "very well," broke down the day after its resale when a severely corroded control bar failed.

Dudley Trading Standards launched a second investigation, with a vehicle expert deeming the car not only unroadworthy but also highly dangerous.

The expert noted that severe corrosion had worsened to the point where a suspension collapse was likely, and many previously identified faults had not been addressed.

Hickman pleaded guilty at Dudley Magistrates Court to multiple offences under the Road Traffic Act, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and the General Product Safety Regulations.

The case was transferred to Wolverhampton Crown Court, where District Judge Wilkinson noted the gravity of Hickman's actions, stating he was “willing to sell a death trap.”

In addition to the suspended prison sentence, Hickman was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. The court also awarded the defrauded consumer £5,258 in compensation and imposed a £2,500 contribution towards legal costs.

Commenting on the case, a Trading Standards representative said: "Hickman was fully aware of the vehicle's unroadworthy condition after the first court appearance. Instead of properly repairing or scrapping the car, he chose to sell it again for a higher price, knowingly endangering the buyer's life.

"This case sends a clear message that Trading Standards will not hesitate to act against those who endanger consumers by selling dangerous vehicles."