A motor trader who sold a dangerous tipper truck has been ordered to pay £3,850 following a prosecution brought by Dorset Council Trading Standards.
Andrew James Ostolski pleaded guilty to offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 at Poole Magistrates Court on September 9.
The case was brought after a member of the public bought the used tipper truck from Ostolski’s company, BTS Car Sales of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. The vehicle, which was advertised on eBay, was described as having had a full service and a 12-month MOT.
When the truck was delivered to the buyer in Portland, Dorset, he noticed several faults with it, and a local mechanic observed that it shouldn’t be on the road. The victim asked Ostolski for a refund but he received a series of aggressive and abusive texts, so he complained to trading standards.
When the vehicle was examined by another mechanic, he found that it was unroadworthy and dangerous, with many faults which would have been identified by any competent mechanic had it been serviced as claimed when sold.
Investigations also found that the money for the truck had been paid into an account of a separate company and that the defendant was the signatory for that account.
Ostolski was ordered to pay £2,576.71 in compensation, costs of £1,000 to Dorset Council Trading Standards and a fine of £240.
Richard Herringshaw, Principal Trading Standards Officer said: “This vehicle was in one of the worst conditions that we have seen sold in Dorset. Businesses and consumers have a right to expect vehicles they buy to be safe and to know who they are buying from. Mr Ostolski failed in both these respects.”
Councillor Jill Haynes, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Community and Regulatory Services at Dorset Council said: “Our Trading Standards team will continue to take appropriate action where unsafe vehicles are sold for use on our roads.”
