A managing director who sold an amphibious vehicle for use in the Lake District which a judge described as 'a floating coffin' was today sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years and was ordered to pay £28,500 compensation.
In passing sentence, Judge Batty remarked: "I take a very serious view of this case. The vehicle/vessel was an absolute disgrace and undoubtedly unfit for the lake. It could have created an absolute tragedy."
Tim Dutton-Woolley, aged 60, from Worthing, was found guilty by a jury at Carlisle Crown Court after an 8-day trial in April this year, during which the jury travelled to Windermere lake to watch the vehicle being put through its paces.
The court heard that Adrian Cowdroy, a 45-year old local businessman, had paid £34,000 to Sussex-based Amphibious Cars Ltd for a vehicle to take families on tours in the Lake District on both land and water.
Dutton-Woolley, by virtue of his neglect, was found guilty of supplying a vehicle that was not fit for the purpose of carrying fare-paying passengers on land and on water, contrary to the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.
Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria Trading Standards, who brought the prosecution, said: "I’m delighted with the result. The dangers of fare-paying passengers taking a ride on the lake in an unsuitable vehicle are obvious. I hope that by taking this action we’ve averted a future tragedy".
Adrian Cowdroy said: "Apart from causing myself and my family extreme financial hardship over the last three years and depriving us of our savings and livelihood whilst leaving us with huge debts, Tim Dutton personally built and then dangerously modified an Amphibious craft that could have easily seriously injured or even worse, killed all those on board, including men, women and children. Tim Dutton was fully aware of the vehicle's intended purpose and showing total disregard for passenger safety fitted dangerous, second-hand and ill fitting parts."
Tim Dutton-Woolley is appealing his conviction.
ENDS
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