Newbury car dealer Daniel Stokesberry was fined more than £20,000 after selling five unroadworthy vehicles.

Stokesberry, who traded as 3D Car Sales in Bone Lane, admitted at Reading Magistrates’ Court exposing for sale five unroadworthy vehicles and two counts of breaching consumer protection.

Trading Standards prosecuted after inspecting his premises and finding a number of defects in the cars offered for sale.

A Renault Clio had two tyres below the legal limit, a BMW had a securing bolt missing from the wheel and one tyre below the legal limit, and another BMW and a Vauxhall Insignia had illegally dark tinting on the front side windows.

The court was also told that a Carmarthenshire resident had bought a car in April this year and had been instructed by the salesman to write ‘Car Sales’ after his name on the invoice as he was taking out a third party warranty.

Within a few days of collecting the £8,995 BMW, the car wouldn’t start and the resident was told that the warranty did not cover the fault.

When the resident contacted 3D Car Sales, he was told that it was nothing to do with them any more as he had signed a document to say he was a trade dealer.

Stokesberry’s defence said that he had resolved one complaint and was committed to resolving the other.

He also stated he was committed to “professionalising” his business, including improving staff training.

Stokesberry was fined £3,400 for each offence, a total of £23,800, and ordered to pay costs of £1,279 and a victim surcharge of £340.