Halfords technician admits to issuing dozens of fraudulent MOT certificates

Scott Anderson is given a 10-month suspended prison sentence

Halfords signage
Photo: Bigstock

A Halfords employee from Staffordshire, who fraudulently signed off 26 MOT test certificates for cars that never appeared in the garage, has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Scott Anderson of Cannock worked at the branch in Stafford, where he committed the crimes over a three-month period in 2021.

Olivia Maginn, prosecuting on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), told Birmingham Crown Court that Anderson had logged into the Halfords work system on a day he had called in sick.

She said: “The offending occurred between July 8, 2021 and September 30, 2021. On 26 occasions the defendant issued a certificate for vehicles which had not been booked in for examination.

“The defendant, who worked there as a technician, had called in sick. When he [the manager] gained access to the MOT booking system he noticed a live test in progress.

“It was the defendant logged in testing the vehicle. He [the manager] challenged the defendant who said he made a mistake and would abort the test.”

Halfords lost around £1200 in revenue, but Judge Roderick Henderson said: “It’s not about the money, it’s the risk to the public of unchecked cars going on the road.”

Anderson, who is already on a community order for an unrelated assault offence, was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay £500 towards the legal and investigation costs of the case, which exceeded £3400.

Source: Birmingham Mail

4 Comments

  1. Give him the maximum ban from testing he deserves it !!! and better housekeeping from the site manager needed

    Reply
  2. First thing I do every month end is check the test logs, firstly for test duration (sort in duration order) then for issuing IP address. Any discrepancies are then investigated. IP addresses can be a problem if people use mobile phones not on company wifi for booking on or off but it should still be checked.

    Reply
  3. You shouldn’t be using personal devices rearly the only time I do is when on holiday and need to change my password

    Reply
  4. no fine to the company then!!!, also should be banned from working within the motor industry.

    Reply

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