A second-hand car business has lost its appeal to have a fine reduced for selling unroadworthy vehicles.

IS Cars Ltd, based in Royston Road, Baldock, was originally fined £3,600 for selling unroadworthy cars after pleading guilty to two offences at Watford Magistrates’ Court in August.

During an appeal at St Albans Crown Court on January 15, the company claimed the sentence imposed was excessive because it had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.

But Recorder David Mayall dismissed the appeal due to the serious nature of the offences, which put at risk the users of the vehicles and other motorists.

The offences were committed following an inspection of the site by Hertfordshire Trading Standards, when advice was given in writing in the summer of 2012.

In December 2012, a test purchase of a Ford Focus was made by a Hertfordshire Trading Standards officer for £1,200 and a vehicle examiner found it to have a faulty brake assembly, tyre and stop lamp, rendering the car unroadworthy.

The following month a complaint was made to the watchdog about an Audi A4 that had been bought from IS Cars.

The car was examined and found to have a faulty brake, tyre and steering, again making the car unroadworthy.

IS Cars Ltd now face a total bill of £5,400, which includes paying Hertfordshire Trading Standards’ court costs.