A man who was accused of posing as a car mechanic to steal people’s vehicles has had the case against him dropped.
It had been suggested that Simon Young, 24, had been claiming that he would repair customers’ cars but then not return them. The accusations of false representation were dropped, however, just as he was due for trial, the Western Gazette reported.
To work as a legitimate car mechanic, an individual will require a road risks insurance policy, which will enable them to drive customers’ vehicles as part of their business operations. The IMI, the motor trade industry’s professional body, is also trying to introduce official licensing so that car owners can rest assured that someone claiming to be a mechanic is fully certified and qualified.
It is alleged that between 1 and 30 September 2014 Mr Young attempted to coerce the owner of a white Vauxhall Corsa into handing the car over to him so that he could perform repairs on it – he in fact intended to sell the vehicle on for his own profit. He was charged with a similar offence after claiming he would carry out a repair and MOT test on a Renault Laguna.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to both charges and was due to stand trial before Somerset Magistrates. But the case has now been dropped as the court was told that both matters had now been discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.
