If you think it's unacceptable that some motorists drive around in cars with broken tail lights or faulty indicators, spare a thought for the people of Bingham, Nottinghamshire. They had to put up with one driver whose car had no doors, lights, indicators, bonnet, grille or brake lights – driving around their community.
Fortunately, the local constabulary spotted the car just three miles into its journey towards the local scrap metal dealer.
The car, which was described by attending officers as a "skeleton of a vehicle", was owned by one Sam Wilson.
Mr Wilson had removed multiple parts of the car in order to sell online, maximising the amount he would make from the vehicle – a Peugeot 306.
The owner, a student of electrical engineering, claimed he thought the car was road legal because it still had an MOT.
Nottingham Magistrates' Court handed Wilson a £110 penalty for operating a vehicle that could cause injury to others. He was also instructed to pay £120 in costs, as well as being given three licence penalty points.
Speaking about the incident, Wilson said: "I only did it so I could get more money back for the car. I wouldn't have driven it if I didn't think it was safe for the road.
"I was starting college and I was only going to get £150 at the scrap yard, so I thought if I took the doors off and a few other parts I could get more money back."
A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said: "It beggars belief that he thought he could drive it without anyone having concerns."
While driving without doors or lights will not directly increase the likelihood of a call to your car breakdown cover provider, it certainly creates serious and unnecessary risks.
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