The managing director of Sussex-based firm Amphibious Cars Ltd was today found guilty of supplying an amphibious car that was not fit for carrying fare-paying passengers on land or water.
The jury reached the unanimous verdict after an eight-day trial at Carlisle Crown Court which saw the jury travel to Windermere to watch the vehicle undergo ‘sea trials’ on the lake.
Timothy Dutton-Woolley, aged 59, from Worthing, is due to be sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on May 28th.
In 2004, Adrian Cowdroy decided to start up a business in the Lake District providing amphibious vehicle tours for families. Whilst researching on the internet, Mr Cowdroy encountered an article by the defendant, who apparently specialised in such vehicles.
The vehicle was finally supplied on 9 December 2005, but it was not fit for carrying fare paying passengers on land or water.
Lake wardens refused to issue a licence to allow the vessel to take fare-paying passengers on Windermere. Mr Cowdroy had spent £34,000 on a vehicle which was not fit for the purpose.
Peter Hopley, a chartered engineer specialising in mechanical design and marine equipment, told the Court that there was a high risk of down flooding and sinking and that he had real concerns about the stability of the vehicle.
Phil Ashcroft, Head of Cumbria Trading Standards who brought the prosecution, said: "There can be no shortcuts where the safety of the public is concerned; especially given that this vehicle’s primary purpose was to take fare-paying passengers on Lake Windermere".
ENDS
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Notes
1. The charge was that the vehicle "was not fit for the purpose of carrying passengers on land and on water", contrary to section 1(1)(b) of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.
2. A winding up order was made against Amphibious Car Ltd in the High Court of Justice on 13 February 2008. the company had liabilities of £260,616, and no assets.