Crooked mechanic handed out 'fake' MOT certificates to pals without testing vehicles
A MECHANIC handed out a number of bogus MOT certificates to his friends and family without testing the vehicles.
Christopher Boote signed off paperwork for his brother, another relative and several friends during his time working at a Longton garage.
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But an investigation at North Staffs Tyre and Battery discovered the mechanic had not inspected the vehicles.
It was later discovered one of the eight vehicles involved was almost 15 years old.
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Now Boote, of Whiteridge Road, Kidsgrove, has been sacked from his job after he was charged with eight counts of fraud by false representation.
And the 54-year-old was handed a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work after admitting the offences at Stafford Magistrates' Court.
He has also been disqualified from practising as an MOT tester for five years following an internal investigation.
The court heard how Boote started work at the Lightwood Road-based garage in March.
He was questioned in July after an audit raised suspicions about the certificates he had issued.
Boote was interviewed by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, the government body that supervises MOT testing, and admitted the fraud.
Kevin Good, prosecuting, said: " Boote confirmed he had created test records for the eight vehicles and stated that the eight vehicles did not attend the test centre."
Mr Good added that the owners of the vehicles – which were registered between 1998 and 2008 – included Boote's brother Darren.
"The other vehicles concerned were friends of his," he said.
Boote's solicitor Heather Drew said the father-of-two had not benefited financially from the fraud and was struggling to keep his family afloat after losing his job.
She said: "He very foolishly thought he was doing these people a favour. It can only be described as complete stupidity.
"What he does say is that he knows the people very well and knows the vehicles. He had checked them over and believed the vehicles were safe.
"He has lost his job. He is unlikely to ever become an MOT certificate tester again."
Mrs Drew said the court case had caused 'extreme distress' to Boote's family.
She added: "He is a previously law-abiding man.
"His daughter is due to be married next year and he was due to be paying towards that
"The family home is up for sale as they are struggling to pay the mortgage." John Britton, chairman of the magistrates' bench, was handed three character witnesses and a report from probation workers to consider before deciding on a sentence.
He gave Boote credit for his early guilty plea and told him: "You are a man of previous good character and you have lost that good character over these issues."
Neil Procter, managing director of North Staffs Tyre and Battery, said: "The only thing I can say is that as soon as we discovered something was going on he was fired.
"It isn't the sort of thing we want going on in our business.
"We always make sure everything is above board in our company and carry out routine audits."
Boote, who claims job-seeker's allowance, must also pay £500 in court costs.
Comments
by dresden_boy
Thursday, October 25 2012, 10:53AM
“Ref the hemmo 2008 comment.
I too use North Staffs Tyre and Battery and will continue to do so. They are one of the straightest and most honest garages I have used in my 30 years of driving. I would recommend them to anyone, the service there is second to none.
As an ex works manager (Not at NSTB) I know too well that you can get the occasional bad apple working for you, saying that if he knew and serviced the cars himself, though still illegal, is not quite the same as just selling blank MOTs.
Compare North Staffs with some of the other local MOT stations who routinely fail virtually all cars on corroded brake pipes - you know who you are.”
by Anon_mow_cop
Monday, October 22 2012, 10:16AM
“@ainsworthcole
Having done a lot of driving in the USA, I have seen some real **** motors being driven on the roads over there, some of them only fit for the scrap heap. The MOT has got rid of a load of dangerous vehicles off the road, and since the emissions test was tightened up, also a lot of "oil-burners" have been got rid of as well. If a vehicle is in sound mechanical mechanical condition it will pass the MOT.This gut should have been jailed. The people who had the fake MOT's off him know their insurance is invalid and I hope they get caught as wel.”
by semis
Monday, October 22 2012, 4:12AM
“"Hemmo 2008" This case was not considered by a Judge but a Magistrate. Should you seriously wish to be part of the Judicial system then apply to be a Magistrate, anyone can.”
by focusboy
Sunday, October 21 2012, 1:55PM
“Obviously this guy's friends and family haven't considered the following:-
Driving a car without a valid MOT is illegal and driving illegally invalidates your insurance. Therefore, if any of these people had had an accident and tried to make an insurance claim not only would the insurance company refuse to pay out, but they would also inform the Police and a prosecution for driving without insurance (and MOT) would follow.”
by focusboy
Sunday, October 21 2012, 1:48PM
“Driving without a valid MOT (when a vehicle is old enough to require one) is a criminal offence. I take it that all the people who were happy to receive these fake MOT certificates will also be facing legal proceedings?”
by hemmo2008
Sunday, October 21 2012, 1:18PM
“i go to north staffs tyres its a bit worrying who is watching whats going on seem to be a lapse by management with this company think it better to find a more reputable one”
by PECKER66
Sunday, October 21 2012, 11:39AM
“An MOT doesnt suggest its road worthy for 12 months, only at the time of inspection the vehicle passed the requirements set in place by VOSA. He has done wrong and now he is paying for it.
He as only done friends and family and obviously they must of known their vehicles were not being inspected.”
by hemmo2008
Sunday, October 21 2012, 11:29AM
“he could have been responsible for someones death due to brake failure or steering fault on any of those cars he should be jailed not mamby pamby community service and all the car owners on this seroious fiddlle should be fined at least £1000 pounds each.please please let me be a judge there would be no soft sentences from me.”
by ainsworthcole
Saturday, October 20 2012, 8:18PM
“wow...I didn't know the new computerized MOT can be fake..I thought the govt had overhaul n safe proof the system..this is really news to me....the old ones were easy to fake ..but these new ones also included a bar code that can be scanned..and info that goes straight to the police...but come to think of it..wats good is an MOT certificate anyway..the moment you leave the garage you can take off the new parts..sell them and put the old failed parts back on...your MOT will still be good for one year so who will know.
That's is why I support the USA system of not having any MOT or fitness, they just rely on their police officers stopping motorist that they observe driving unsafe and faulty vehicles..they get a fine warning or vehicle taken off the road depending on the severity of offence., because of this most drivers keep their vehicles in good working order”
by Redpitlad
Saturday, October 20 2012, 6:37PM
“Most petrol head are car/bike enthusiast!!!!!and spare no expense in keeping there pride and joy in top road going condition..
I my self have just replace two front suspension coils had two new quality tyres fitted..a full service on my car.. which I do my self having worked in a garage for nine years..the oil alone is fifty pounds a gallon for my car,
£40 pounds for a M.O.T is peanuts for most people to pay.. for a once year...clean bill of heath for there motors.
What this story doesn't say is how much this man was getting as a back hander for these M.O.T because I don't be leave for one minute that he was doing this for nothing.
And speed haters umm..Bell Euro 500 and GX 65 I have both.”