A WOMAN sold a car despite its ownership having passed to a loan company, in lieu of repayments she failed to meet.

Stephanie Lane agreed a £1,300 payment for the Honda Civic from a caller to her home in Seaham, in March.

Durham Crown Court was told the would-be buyer carried out an internet check confirming the car was registered to Lane, at the address in Marsden Way.

He, therefore, paid the money, arranged insurance, registered the vehicle in his name and spent £700 on parts for the car.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said weeks later, however, the buyer received a letter from Log Book Loans stating it had paperwork showing it owned the car.

Lane had taken out a loan and, until repayments were made, ownership passed to the company.

She struggled to meet repayments and failed to mention to the company that she was selling the car.

Mr Baker said the car was the security for the loan when the terms were agreed.

Lane was arrested and made no reply to police questions.

She was accused of fraud by false representation and admitted the charge at a magistrates’ court hearing last month.

But, as the offence put her in breach of a previous suspended prison sentence, the case was sent to the crown court for sentence.

Mr Baker said Lane was given the suspended sentence after being convicted of four counts of fraud over loans for mostly high value cars, made in the name of a neighbour, whose bank details “came into her possession”.

But as she was caught before any of the vehicles were handed over, there was no loss to any party.

“Unfortunately, in this case, the buyer of the Civic couldn’t dispute that Log Book Loans were the legitimate owners of the car,” added Mr Baker.

Ian Hudson, mitigating, said despite the domestic demands placed on Lane, a 26-year-old single mother-of-two young daughters, she managed to complete all 250-hours’ unpaid work imposed as part of the previous sentence.

Mr Hudson said she has continued to perform voluntary work at a club for the elderly since completing the community side of the sentence.

He added that Lane, now of Poppy Lane, Shotton Colliery, has “made a fresh start” and has pledged to repay the £1,300.

Judge Colin Burn told Lane: “You’ve now truly lost any vestige of good name as far as the courts are concerned.

“You’re a convicted fraudster on two occasions.”

He imposed a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered Lane to perform a further 160-hours’ unpaid work as well as pay the victim £1,300 compensation, at the rate of £30 per week.