The owner of a Brockley garage has been sentenced after admitting MOT fraud, which saw 27 cars pass the test without being inspected.

Spyros Katchis, owner of Dundalk Motors Testing Ltd in St Asaph Road, was found issuing MOT certificates without carrying out the physical test after a member of the public tipped off the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

After three days of surveillance the DVSA found two of the testers at the garage, Katchis and employee Ian Lewis had issued MOT test certificates for vehicles which had not been seen at the premises.

Of the 16 vehicles Katchis registered for testing, 14 of them were not seen on the premises.

When questioned by police, Katchis admitted he had issued the MOTs without having seen the vehicles and had no knowledge of their condition.

Lewis issued 29 MOT test certificates and of those, 13 were not seen to attend the premises.

He admitted he had issued MOT certificates fraudulently without seeing the vehicles.

Both men pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court.

Katchis received an eight month suspended sentence, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £2,500 and an £80 victim surcharge.

Lewis received a four month suspended sentence, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £500 and a £80 victim surcharge.

DVSA head of counter fraud, Andy Rice, said: “The annual MOT is an important aspect of road safety and DVSA will pursue and prosecute those who defraud the system by issuing pass certificates without carrying out the test.

“This sentence sends out a clear message that those who put public safety at risk will be dealt with accordingly.”