by Graham Tutthill

A driver who decided to save money by replacing his suspension springs with tennis balls has been fined.

The Opel Vectra was stopped at Dover’s Eastern Docks and inspection by Port of Dover police officers revealed the stack of balls where the springs should have been.

On September 4, the case was heard at Folkestone Magistrates Court and Rumen Petrov, 34, from London, was convicted in his absence for using a vehicle with equipment likely to cause danger or injury.

He was fined £350, ordered to pay £50 costs and a £15 victims surcharge. His licence was endorsed with three penalty points, and he was fined £175 for a lighting offence.

“Clearly the effectiveness of the vehicles suspension system had been significantly compromised and posed a very real risk to the driver, and other motorists,” said Inspector Neil Care.

“Petrov intended to drive to London and taking his vehicle off the road has no doubt contributed to road safety, not just within the port but throughout the south-east.”