A Dundee second-hand car dealer whose showroom and house were searched as part of a multi-agency investigation has had the suspension on his licence lifted.
The city’s licensing committee lifted the suspension on Charles Sandeman’s trading licence at a meeting at the city chambers in City Square.
Mr Sandeman was unable to trade after more than a dozen police searched vehicles at his Glencross Motors garage in Clepington Road.
Officials from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Vosa), Trading Standards and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) were also involved.
Mr Sandeman, whose Invergowrie home was also raided, had his second-hand car dealer licence revoked by the licensing committee after police detailed the allegations.
Six vehicles on the sales yard were found to be breaching Vosa safety codes and were deemed “dangerous”.
Solicitor Kris Gilmartin said the vehicles would have undergone checks before being driven to make sure they were safe.
Mr Sandeman previously had an appeal against his suspension dismissed at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Mr Gilmartin said the closure of the garage while Mr Sandeman was banned from trading had a “significant effect” on staff.
He said: “There was a significant effect in the business being closed overall and the effect on employees who would lose their jobs.
“Ultimately, these are six minor defects. There were more than 100 cars examined by Vosa and Sepa. That is more than 400 tyres and problems were found with four of them.”
There have been no charges brought against Mr Sandeman by Police Scotland or any of the other agencies involved.
Mr Gilmartin said the issues found with vehicles on the forecourt had been rectified, while his client contested the other issues relating to paper work and licence plates.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Courier.