Colin Prudham, 37, spent months secretly selling fake MOT certificates to motorists, charging £30 a shot and making more than £12,000 in the process.

But when his bosses at the Knights of Newcastle garage in Shiremoor became suspicious, Prudham recruited some friends to break in, smash up the computer equipment to cover his tracks, and steal cars and tools worth £18,000.

However, he was tracked down when police realised he had used his own security keys to deactivate the alarm.

Prudham, of Flodden Way, Billingham, Teesside, admitted charges of fraud, burglary and theft when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court.

He faked 419 MOT certificates over a six-month period last year before raiding the office on July 28.

Jailing him for three years, Judge Esmond Faulks said: "You came upon an idea where you would make a lot of money by faking Ministry of Transport certificates.

"The effect of that was that the system for ensuring cars over three-years-old are in a safe condition was by-passed.

"That would risk the lives of innocent people who may be injured or killed as a result of cars in defective condition.

"What you did had very serious consequences for road safety."

Michael Graham, prosecuting, said the garage owner, Ian Sturgeon, has been forced to give up the business.

"The victim said that this defendant has wrecked his business," said Mr Graham.

"He no longer has it. He had to seek a mortgage break for his own home, and he and his wife are now both using anti-depressants."

James Adkin, defending, said: "This was a foolish, ill-thought out venture by the defendant.

"It was born out of panic that the realisation of the fraudulent MOT certificates would be discovered."

The burglars caused £1,200 worth of damage and stole two cars worth £16,000 as well as tools worth £2,400.

____________________________________________________________________

Click here to go back to News Guardian Latest News