A 23-year-old mechanic has been fined £630 for having a vehicle in a dangerous condition and not fitted with an exhaust silencer.

Louis Leonard Taylor, of Palatine Road, Douglas, also had his driving licence endorsed with three penalty points by magistrates.

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court that police stopped Taylor while he was driving a MG ZS180 on November 8 on Main Road in Onchan.

The car’s exhaust was said to be making excessive noise, measured at 104.5 decibels.

There is no legal limit in the Isle of Man but it is said that a reasonable level is 100 decibels.

After the vehicle was taken to the test centre it was found to have a number of defects with no silencer fitted to the exhaust and the catalytic converter removed.

There was also an extensively corroded area on the front chassis.

The vehicle examiner deemed that the car was in a dangerous condition.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said: ’Mr Taylor does work as a mechanic. He doesn’t have his full qualification but has worked in that area since he was 16.

’He was offered the car by another mechanic. He understood it was in reasonable condition and purchased it for £1,000. He did make some modifications and that has led to this matter.

’He has now spent around £3,500 fixing issues on a £1,000 car.’

Magistrates fined Taylor £200 for the exhaust silencer offence and £430 for the dangerous condition offence.

He was also ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs which he will pay, along with the fine, at a rate of £100 per month.