A mechanic has narrowly avoided jail after being caught faking the results of 33 MOT certificates.

Phillip Wilson was exposed by DVSA inspectors while working at MTs MOT Centre in Waterlooville, Portsmouth.

Inspectors discovered that the roller-brake tester and decelerometer were broken and ordered Wilson to stop all testing until both were fixed.

DVSA order to stop testing ignored

Wilson ignored the warnings and continued to dupe customers into thinking their vehicles were road-worthy.

His actions forced the authorities to issue a safety warning to dozens of drivers across the area.

The case incited the fury of Judge Gary Burrell QC at Southampton Crown Court, who vowed to make an example of Wilson.

He said: “You were in a position of trust.

“You knew what you were doing.

“What you did in this case was to expose others to a risk of loss and a risk of injury.

“Utter contempt for the MOT system”

“You displayed utter contempt for the MOT system and its integrity.”

Prosecutor Lucy Conroy told the court when Wilson later admitted to inspectors “making up the values” and “taking cash to issue certificates by hand” to avoid them being electronically registered with the DVSA.

She added: “The public has a right to have trust and confidence in those we ensure the safety of our families and ourselves.

“Currently, we have 33 vehicles who may or may not have defective brakes.”

Wilson has since been sacked from his role at the garage and banned from his profession for five years.

Simon Moger, defending, said: “He was very, very foolish to have carried on doing what he was doing.”

Related: DVSA emphasises “phased introduction” of connected equipment amid cost concerns

Judge Burrell said the public’s confidence had been rocked and insisted he needed to make an example of Wilson to act as a ‘deterrent’ to others.

However, he stopped short of an immediate prison sentence, instead imposing a six-month jail term, suspended for two years.

He added: “This is not an easy decision because you are of good character, you are unlikely to re-offend and you have lost quite a lot – you’ve lost your job, you’ve lost the prospect of being an MOT certificate giver for at least five years, your family situation has broken down.

“So you have, I accept, lost quite a lot.

“I am just – but only just – persuaded that it would be appropriate to suspend the sentence.”

Wilson was ordered to pay £3,725 in costs and carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

Share your comments below.