Rogue mechanic who wrongly passed MOT of dangerous car that killed three young people in crash avoids jail
Neil Lewis, 47, avoided prison after admitting he fraudulently passed the MOT of a Volkswagen Tiguan that later crashed near St Mellons, Cardiff, killing three young people. He received a 12-month community order and 100 hours of unpaid work. The case highlights the consequences of approving a vehicle despite known safety defects.
The driver, Rafel Jeanne, 24, and passengers Darcy Ross and Eve Smith, both 21, died; two other passengers survived with injuries. The car had previously been damaged in a Scottish crash, with its airbags deployed and warning lights on, and it failed an MOT in February 2023 over seatbelt and airbag-related faults. Prosecutors said Lewis passed it despite those problems, and messages on his phone included, “I've passed the car though.”
- Mechanic Neil Lewis received a community order, not prison.
- Three young people died in the crash.
- The car had failed an MOT over safety faults.
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An MOT is a roadworthiness test required for most cars in Britain once they are more than three years old. It checks whether a vehicle meets basic safety and environmental standards, but it does not guarantee that a car will remain safe after the test.
Mechanics authorised to carry out MOTs must record faults and refuse a pass when a vehicle fails the required checks. Airbags and seatbelts help protect people in a crash, so faults in these systems can put drivers and passengers at greater risk.
The deaths happened after a car with a history of crash damage and safety warnings was driven in Cardiff. The case concerns the responsibility of MOT testers to assess vehicles honestly, and how that process helps keep unsafe cars off the road.