As the government looks to extending the period between MoT tests, some are wondering whether we can fully trust the annual safety check.

It comes as a former Halfords worker has been found guilty of issuing 26 fraudulent MoT tests by Birmingham Crown Court.

Failed

Scott Anderson was working at a Halfords branch in Stafford. He has been sentenced to 10 months, suspended for a year, after issuing 26 fraudulent MoT test certificates. The vehicles had never even visited the testing centre.

He was caught out by the manager at Halfords and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Despite taking the day off sick, he logged into the work system to carry out an MoT on a day.

An investigation was launched by the manager at Halfords as soon as the initial anomaly had been discovered. This in turn then led to finding the 25 other occurrences of fraudulent MoTs.

Not fit for purpose

According to the DVSA, the offences were carried out between July 8, 2021 and September 30, 2021.

Judge Roderick Henderson Birmingham Crown Court the seriousness of the offence was heightened due to issuing certificates for vehicles that may be unroadworthy without the proper MOT checks taking place.

Halfords and its customers were victim to another fraudulent MOT tester in the same year.

Anton Fricker sentenced to an eight month custodial sentence, suspended for 15 months after pleading guilty to 31 charges related to issuing an MOT certificate without performing MOT tests.