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.