AN YSTRAD Mynach businessman has been taken to court by Caerphilly County Borough Council and prosecuted – for the second time – for supplying a dangerous converted camper van to an unsuspecting customer.

Dayne Bartlett, 48, of Penallta Road, Ystrad Mynach, who at the time of the offence traded as Touch of Class Upholstery, came to the attention of Caerphilly Trading Standards after carrying out work on a VW Transporter vehicle, to convert it into a camper van.

A spokeswoman for Caerphilly County Borough Council said: “The owner of the vehicle took it to Bartlett in September 2015 to have it converted at a cost of £15,000.

“Soon after the work was done however, the owner noticed problems with the vehicle, including that he was concerned about the security of some of the vehicle’s seats. Having taken it to a garage where it was indicated that it was dangerous, the owner got in touch with Caerphilly Trading Standards, who employed an Independent Vehicle Examiner.

“It was confirmed the rear seat/bed conversion and the front middle seat belt were defective, meaning the vehicle had been supplied back to the owner in a dangerous condition.”

The case was heard on Friday, April 21 at Newport Magistrates’ Court, where Bartlett pleaded guilty to the offence of supplying an unsafe product.

He was given a community service order to carry out 170 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, reduced from 200 hours for entering a guilty plea.

He was also ordered to pay costs to the council of £2,964 and to pay a victim surcharge of £85.

In hearing the case, the court heard how Bartlett had been convicted previously – in June 2015 – of two similar offences, some five months before he supplied the dangerous vehicle to this customer.

Rob Hartshorn, Caerphilly CBC’s head of public protection, said: “I hope this prosecution highlights to both Mr Bartlett and indeed anyone else who feels they can dupe paying customers that they will not get away with these practices.”

To contact Trading Standards visit caerphilly.gov.uk/tradingstandards or call 01443 811300.