THE owner of a Land Rover specialist garage has been ordered to pay more than £5,000 after falsely advertising a car.

Jonathan Paul Emmott, of Emmott’s of Colne, had advertised a three-door hard-top Land Rover Defender 90.2 5DT on eBay.

Burnley Magistrates Court heard Emmott, 51, had advertised the car, registration no. F271KOD, for £12,500.

Claire Box, of Lancashire County Council’s trading standards department, prosecuting, told the court the car did not comply with DVLA guidelines on how to register a rebuilt vehicle after it was checked by police officers in September 2017.

The court heard the car had been falsely advertised on eBay as having several service changes, including a ‘nut and bolt restoration’, having both axles stripped, checked and reassembled with new seals, as well as new oil for the manual gearbox and transfer box.

The 200TDi engine had also received a full service, the advert claimed.

Mrs Box said: “This vehicle should never have reappeared as the complete vehicle.

“If the vehicle does not fit (the criteria) it should have been given a ‘Q’ reg, so it can be seen by enthusiasts that the vehicle’s age is not new.

“The age is in doubt.

“After examining the gearbox and other parts, these items had not been serviced or replaced.”

Emmott, who represented himself, said he bought the car off someone who was ‘honest and fair’.

The court heard Emmott, who had run his business for 10 years, had received a V5 document, the car’s log book, from the DVLA and got the vehicle ready and was happy to advertise it for sale.

He said: “I had no interest in trying to make a quick buck.

“I should have said in (the advert) all jobs should have been done when the car was sold.

“But during the due diligence tests I felt it was safe to sell to the public. I should have worded it totally differently.”

Emmott said the work would have been done before the car left his site.

“The advert was wrong, no one would have been conned or anything like that.”

Emmott, of Carr Hall Gardens in Barrowford, admitted two counts of engaging in commercial practice which was misleading action containing false information.

He was fined £4,000 with £200 victim surcharge and prosecution costs of £843.38. The vehicle was ordered to be destroyed.

Ed Beaman, the chairman of the magistrates bench, said: “It is a very serious offence.

“That advert should have never have gone on eBay, it was very deceiving.

“I would like to congratulate the Lancashire County Council’s trading standards team by bringing this case to the court.

“More cases should be brought forward for the public’s protection.”