A CAR garage owner who carried out two dangerous repairs to a vehicle has been jailed by the courts.

In August 2022, a consumer took her car to Performance North West Ltd, where owner Golborne-based Lee Hill agreed to fit a new exhaust to her car at a cost of £1,500.

The consumer collected the vehicle from the garage, on Guardian Street in Warrington, and two weeks later she embarked on a 200-mile journey.

However, while travelling, she noticed what she thought was steam coming from the rear of the vehicle.

As she pulled in at a motorway service station, she saw fuel pouring out from underneath her car.

When a breakdown recovery mechanic examined the car, they advised that the exhaust was positioned to run directly underneath the fuel tank, and that the heat had melted a six-inch hole in the plastic tank.

Hill agreed to repair the exhaust and replace the fuel tank with a new one.

However, despite confirming to the consumer that the works involved fitting a new fuel tank, he only repaired the old one.

Following an investigation by Warrington Borough Council’s Trading Standards team, the case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court for sentence.

Hill was convicted, alongside Performance North West Ltd, which is listed online as being permanently closed, of supplying an unsafe product and misleading the consumer, regarding the replacement fuel tank.

The case was concluded at Liverpool Crown Court

The case was concluded at Liverpool Crown Court

Prior to sentencing, judge Gary Woodhall said that the danger presented by the first repair was obvious, and that he had returned the vehicle to the victim in a dangerous condition.

The fuel leakage could have contaminated the windscreens of other drivers on the road, as well as present the risk of fire, the court heard.

Judge Woodhall also recognised how the consumer’s independence and confidence when driving had been affected.

Hill, aged 45 and of Waltersgreen Crescent in Golborne, was subsequently sentenced to 12 months immediate imprisonment.

The judge explained that compensation should be payable to her, but as neither the company or Hill had any funds, this was not possible.

He considered suspending the sentence because of impact on the defendant’s family, but concluded that this was not appropriate in the circumstances of the offending.

The sentence was welcomed by David Boyer, director of environment and transport at Warrington Borough Council.

He said: “Our trading standards team welcomes complaints that they can investigate.

“Consumer safety is of the highest importance to ensure we protect the public from unsafe and dangerous practices.”

For advice or to report a trader, visit the Citizen’s Advice website or phone the helpline on 0808 223 1133, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.