A FRAUDSTER who issued MoT certificates to more than 30 cars without even looking at them has avoided jail.

Roy Claydon got involved in the scam after racking up personal debt and was persuaded to issue the all clear for cars if motorists forked out £50.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency was tipped off about what was going on and performed surveillance at the Jaywick MoT Centre where Claydon worked as the site manager in March.

Their investigation revealed he registered 49 MoTs during that time - but only 14 cars were ever present.

The other 35 were never even driven to the premises.

Of those, 30 were said to have passed immediately and the other five after minor repairs - a tactic believed to have been used to keep the pass rate believable and not arouse suspicion.

Five of the vehicles the 52-year-old passed had failed their MoTs in the two months previously, three had dangerous defects and one has since had to have been scrapped because of its poor condition.

The DVSA invited Claydon, of Somerset Close, Colchester, for a voluntary interview but he declined.

He admitted 35 counts of fraud by false representation at a hearing earlier this week.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard he had lost his job, although he had since found more part-time garage work, had permission to perform MoT tests revoked for five years and risked the ire of his wife.

He expressed remorse for what he had done and accepted it was the most stupid thing he had ever agreed to.

Judge Christopher Morgan said his actions could have impacted those entirely innocent by allowing unsafe cars on the road.

“As an MoT tester you have a responsibility to ensure the system is not abused and to prevent the risk of harm coming to the public,” he said.

“You breached that trust which had been placed upon you.”

He said that Claydon’s guilty pleas were to his credit as well as that he was the carer for a young child and sentenced him to nine months in jail suspended for two years.

He must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work but Judge Morgan declined to ban him from driving.

Claydon, who has since paid off the debt which caused him to offend but still owes other repayments, must pay a contribution of £1,000 towards the DVSA costs of £5,000.