Garage equipment salesman prosecuted after forging solicitors letters in legal first

Man convicted of three charges of providing counterfeit solicitors letters to help secure MOT testing station status

Garage equipment salesman prosecuted after forging solicitors letters in legal first
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A sales manager has been handed a suspended custodial sentence at Newport Crown Court on 16 January for knowingly providing false information in the form of forged solicitors letters to secure MOT garage applications, following a DVSA investigation.

Thomas Richard Woods, a sales manager, worked for Oakmain Ltd, a company specialising in the installation and service of garage equipment mainly for independent garages and MOT stations.

His work included providing technical support, training customers on new equipment and managing finance for maintenance servicing and equipment calibration.

The company also completed the MOT Station application (VT01) form, which is required to set up an MOT test station on behalf of customers.

Mr Woods was convicted of three charges of providing counterfeit solicitors letters to help secure MOT testing station status.

Related: Government proposes delaying first MOT to ‘cut costs for drivers’

He was given a custodial sentence of 18 months in respect of each of these offences to run concurrently, suspended for 18 months because of his previous good character and personal circumstances.

He was ordered to carry out unpaid work of 220 hours, pay prosecution costs of £4,736.20 together with a victim surcharge of £149, with payment to be made at the rate of £150 per month.

This was the first ever prosecution for providing fraudulent solicitors letters used as part of MOT garage applications.

Solicitors letters are one of the supporting documents required to open or change an MOT test station.

This letter is to show proof the business has all the rights it needs to be operating.

This is really important for garages carrying out MOTs on behalf of government where the public should expect legitimacy.

Related: MOT tester fined £1,300 for issuing fraudulent certificates

The judge in this case said that in forging solicitors letters and lying about legal situations, Mr Woods had sought to blame other people for his actions, had compromised the MOT system deliberately undermining it and had also undermined confidence in solicitors.

DVSA examiners first uncovered fraudulent activity after carrying out a regular routine MOT garage audit. The offences were carried out between November 2019 and October 2021.

DVSA’s director of enforcement, Marian Kitson said: “Applications to be an MOT testing station are made in good faith by the applicants concerned.

“Motorists need to feel confident they can rely on MOT testing stations to carry out any necessary work and garages using professional services should expect the service to be legitimate.

“This case shows the DVSA will take action against those who abuse the MOT testing scheme for their own gain.”

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