An undercover operation caught out a tyre company after it emerged the business was dangerously fitting tyres which were not legally safe to use.

Tamim Shiraz, who owns 5 Star and Services Ltd, was fined just less than £2,000 after a Brent Council Trading Standards investigation uncovered the worrying circumstances.

An undercover officer went to the company in Beresford Avenue, Alperton and asked for a part-worn tyre to be replaced.

It emerged Shiraz' businesses did the fitting using a tyre supplied by the undercover officer which was "below the legal standard".

Shiraz, of Torrington Drive, Harrow , was ordered to pay £1,960 by Willesden Magistrates' Court on February 7.

'Incorrectly repaired puncture should not have been put in service'

The court heard the business was given advice by Trading Standards on selling part worn tyres before officers conducted a test purchase on July 7, 2016.

This tyre was examined by an expert employed by the tyre safety organisation, TyreSafe, which found an incorrectly repaired puncture and confirmed that the wheel should not have been put back into service.

Beresford Avenue, Alperton, where the business is based

On July 21 2016, officers visited the business again and found four further tyres which did not meet the Motor Vehicles Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994.

Councillor Tom Miller, Brent Council's cabinet member responsible for Trading Standards, said: "It is completely unacceptable for tyre fitters to be taking shortcuts with part-worn tyres, putting drivers, their passengers and other innocent members of the public at risk in order to maximise profits.

"If handled properly, part-worn tyres are perfectly legal and safe.

"But I would ask anyone thinking of buying a tyre to check it carefully before buying, looking out for cracks, tears, the state of the tread and of course that it is properly marked as a part-worn tyre before handing over the cash.

"Brent's Trading Standards team will never tire in their efforts to ensure the public are kept safe.

"It's really important that businesses follow the advice they are given as officers carry out follow up spot checks and will take action when traders are found to be ignoring warnings and breaching the law."

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