A CAR dealer has been hit with a court fine over false information given to a buyer.

Lisa Cave was this week convicted of selling a faulty car to a consumer.

The 45-year-old was also found guilty of restricting the consumer’s rights by pretending to be a private individual when she was involved in the sale of a number of cars.

The case was brought following a complaint from a consumer who had purchased a BMW from Cave in Middlesbrough.

The car broke down the same day and had to be recovered by the AA.

It was subsequently found that the vehicle’s seatbelt pre-tensioners were no longer working and the air bags had been removed.

An investigation by Middlesbrough Trading Standards revealed that a number of vehicles had been sold from telephone numbers used by Cave and the cars were photographed outside her home.

District Judge Kate Meek, presiding over the case at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, found the defendant guilty on both charges.

Cave, of Forber Road, was fined £200 and a compensation order was given to the consumer of £1,910.

Judith Hedgley, Middlesbrough Council’s Head of Public Protection, said: We cannot allow people to set up a business from home selling cars and giving the impression they are not a trader."