An MOT tester and a mechanic have received suspended prison sentences after passing 223 vehicles they never tested, following a DVSA prosecution.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency successfully prosecuted Owain Shaw, an MOT tester, and Jamie Lee, a mechanic, for MOT fraud at Bristol Crown Court on January 29.
The court heard that the pair had set up a system at Staple Hill Motoring Centre in Bristol to avoid carrying out MOT tests. Lee sent vehicle registration numbers to Shaw, who then issued pass certificates without ever seeing the vehicles.
The practice, known as “ghost” MOT testing, involved issuing certificates for vehicles that were not present at the test station.
Shaw received a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to 44 offences. A further 199 offences were taken into consideration by the judge.
Lee was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years and 250 hours of unpaid work after being found guilty of helping to run the fraudulent operation.
Profits could be seized
Both men also face having profits from their activity seized under proceeds of crime legislation.
Roads and buses minister Simon Lightwood said: “MOT fraud puts lives at risk by allowing dangerous vehicles to be driven illegally, and it’s great to see DVSA using swift action to bring those responsible to justice.
“We’re keeping unsafe vehicles off the road and protecting drivers from being ripped off by fraudulent garages. Through our new road safety strategy, we are strengthening enforcement, making it harder for criminals to abuse the system.”
DVSA investigators first identified suspicious activity in September 2023 after detecting Shaw issuing an MOT certificate in under one minute while monitoring the system remotely. The vehicle being certified was not present at the MOT centre.
Further analysis revealed multiple MOT tests being completed in unrealistically short time periods, prompting a full investigation.
Bank records showed that Lee had paid Shaw £11,428 for issuing fraudulent certificates. These payments were disguised as purchases of car parts.
The fraudulent MOT certificates allowed 223 potentially unsafe vehicles to remain on Britain’s roads. DVSA cancelled all certificates immediately and contacted affected vehicle owners.
A stark warning
Marian Kitson, DVSA director of enforcement, said: “MOT fraud is extremely dangerous, and anyone in the industry who is thinking of making a ‘quick buck’ should think again.
“Our message is clear; if you risk road safety, we will find you, and we will not hesitate to prosecute you with the full force of the law.
“This successful result not only punishes those for risking the safety of all road users but also serves as a stark warning to anyone who believes they can get away with committing such a serious offence.”
DVSA said ghost MOTs account for nearly 80% of all fraudulent MOTs. The agency is developing new technology to make the practice virtually impossible.
A trial is under way requiring MOT testers to photograph vehicles during testing and upload the images to DVSA systems.
A recent pilot involved more than 170 testers across 62 MOT centres, with over 13,000 images uploaded during a six-week period.
DVSA is now expanding the trial to more MOT centres ahead of a potential nationwide rollout.
Under the system, testers must physically see and photograph a vehicle before an MOT certificate can be issued.