AN auctioneer maintained he had done nothing wrong, despite pleading guilty to supplying an unroadworthy horse trailer to a customer.

Peter Honeyman told magistrates in Bishop Auckland that he would plead guilty despite believing in "his heart of hearts" that he was not at fault.

The 49-year-old, who runs Acorn Auctioneers, in Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, said that the case had brought him and his family a lot of heartache and he just wanted to get it over and done with.

Magistrates heard how a woman from Crook purchased the trailer which had been displayed "For Sale As Seen" in the Manor Road yard.

She then took the vehicle away to be adapted and was told by an engineer that it was not roadworthy and was dangerous.

Mr Honeyman said he had no idea the vehicle was not roadworthy saying that it had been brought into the auction by a farmer and he was selling it for commission.

He told magistrates that, in his eyes, he had not supplied the vehicle because he was the middle man in his position as an auctioneer.

The businessman was not represented, but said that he had received advice from solicitors and barristers who told him he had a chance of winning if he was to fight it.

Mr Honeyman said: "The law is very confusing and even solicitors tell me they do not understand it.

"If I have broken the law then there are hundreds of auctioneers and big companies who are breaking the law all the time."

But he was told that in the eyes of the law because he was in possession of the vehicle at the time, he therefore supplied it.

Mr Honeyman, of Claremont Road, Darlington, was fined £150 for supplying an unroadworthy vehicle, £40 for not signing a receipt and ordered to pay £200 costs.