A TYWYN garage worker issued a MoT certificate on his own car when not qualified to do so, magistrates heard.

DVSA prosecutor Anna Moran told Dolgellau court that the Beacon Garage in Tywyn closed last September and when the owner checked the paper work he noticed that an MoT certificate had been issued to a vehicle owned by Andrew John Crowley who worked at the garage.

The owner knew that Crowley was not a registered MoT mechanic and that the authorised person could not have carried out the MoT test at that time.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency were informed and Crowley, 52, of 16 Glanwendon, Tywyn, admitted that he had made the MoT certificate out himself for his car and that the vehicle did not go through an MoT test.

Crowley pleaded guilty by letter to issuing an MoT certificate for his vehicle, a Vauxhall, registration number DE 56 TKX, knowing that it was false.

The court heard that when interviewed by DVSA officials, Crowley made a full and frank admission and said that with the garage closing down and losing his job, he could not afford to have his vehicle tested at another garage.

Court chairman Sarah Foskett said that there was a degree of culpability in what the defendant did and although he pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, it was a serious offence. Crowley was fined £725 with £72 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £1,150 prosecution costs making a total of £1,947 to be paid within 14 days.