MOT fraud exposed following fatal car crash

Three young people died following an MOT where the owner of the garage falsified seatbelt or airbag issues and admitted he knew it was "dangerous".

Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, died and two youngsters lay critical undiscovered for two days after their accident in St Mellons woodland in March 2023.

47 year old Neil John Lewis was given a 12 month community order after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation on Tuesday, at Cardiff Magistrates' court. .

According to the Sun and BBC the court heard, on the 9th February 2023 an MOT carried out by Lewis where the cars system showed warning lights on - indicating a fault with the seatbelt, air bag or both. Neil's son Alexander carried out repairs on the car, but according to the garage did not touch the warning system as this was something the garage was unable to do. The vehicle was retested on 23 February 2023, and passed as the warning lights did not display a warning issue again.

Neil Lewis sent Lia a text which read: "Car is done. It's 560, you have to sort the seatbelt and the airbag light. I've passed the car though." With a grin emoji. As this text was read out the court heard gasps.

The Volkwagon Tiguan had formerly been involved in an accident in 2021 where it was salvaged, and sold to a friend of Rafel Jeanne, the driver on the night of the accident.

Francesca Parry prosecutor noted the seatbelts on the car "had not been replaced since the first collision in 2021 and were not working properly, and this would have been obvious from a glance".

The five youngsters went missing after a night out and were last seen at about 02:00 GMT on 4 March 2023. Three families reported the young women missing on the 4th March 2023. Five further appeals were made to the police to find the group. One of the mothers was told to stop contacting the police. 46 hours later the car was discovered with two of the party still alive, they were taken to hospital.

Alcohol and laughing gas had been involved prior to the crash the court had previously heard.

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