A VAN driver from Cookley has been told to pay £950 after his vehicle was found to have a defective tyre two months after it had failed an MoT inspection.

Kidderminster Magistrates Court heard yesterday Melvyn Share, 62, of Bridge Road, Cookley, was stopped during checks on scrap metal vehicles off the A449 at Whittington Hall Lane, between Caunsall and Kinver, on October 10, last year.

PC Andy Wallace said Share produced a two-month-old MoT failure notice as identification. The test had been failed due to a defective tyre which was found to be still on the vehicle.

Share admitted having the tyre and denied the MoT offence but was found guilty of that in his absence.

He was fined £400 for using the vehicle with a defective tyre, £200 for using the vehicle without a valid MoT certificate, £350 court costs and received three penalty points on his licence.

PC Wallace said: “On the day Share was stopped we were targeting scrap metal dealers as part of an initiative to crack down on metal thefts and respond to concerns regarding the large number of metal traders in Kidderminster and the condition of some of their vehicles.

“It was clear he was driving the van knowing full well he had a defective tyre and the vehicle had no valid MoT certificate. The case serves as a warning the courts will not hesitate to impose stiff penalties in such circumstances.

“The point also needs to be made a seriously defective tyre could lead to someone being killed as a result of the accident.”

He added further similar checks were being planned by police.