Volkswagen's global finance company is convicted of string of criminal offences involving untaxed cars at Milton Keynes court

The company, which blames a 'technical administrative failing' 'appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court on Friday and received a fine for each charge.

They must also pay thousands in court costs and backdated excise duty for each of the vehicles.

All the offences took place between March and June last year and each involved a different vehicle.

The 21 charges state the company "kept" at an unspecified location vehicles that were unlicensed contrary to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act of 1994..

An additional charge also relates to no insurance, and another states VWFS was responsible for using a vehicle on a public road after having made a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) declaration for it.

Magistrates imposed a fine of between £58 and £60.80 for each of the no tax charges. The maximum penalty is £1000.

The company, which has its head office in a landmark building in Delaware Drive at Tongwell, was also fined £146 for the SORN charge. A cost order of £200 per case was made, bringing the total to more than £4000.

VWFS has been given until March 13 to pay.

Volkswagen Financial Services UK is owned by Volkswagen AG and provides finance, servicing and insurance products to customers across the entire Volkswagen Group in the UK.

The group includes the popular automotive brands of Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and MAN truck and buses.

The Citizen asked VWFS how the offences came to happen.

A spokesman said today: "Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited (VWFS) has a fleet size of approximately 200,000 vehicles. This matter related to a technical administrative failing whereby 23 vehicles were untaxed and one was uninsured (the vast majority being off the road having been returned to VWFS at end of contract and awaiting disposal).

He added: "VWFS fully cooperated with the Court at all times throughout this matter and as a result, the penalty imposed for each fine was limited; most to £58.82 and one fine of £220. No VWFS customers were impacted as a result of this matter and VWFS continues to pride itself on being a reputable motor finance company.”