WML540 mysterious motor problem?

Here is a puzzle for the Bank Holiday weekend.

My WML540PUK.C started behaving erratically a about 5 weeks ago. It would typically get stuck on drain towards the end of the spin cycle and continue to try to drain until I could smell that the motor was really quite hot.

I inspected the drain pump and found two pennies lurking in the tube. I figured that this may have been the cause of the problem and replaced the pump assembly. The problem persisted. I then cleaned the water level hose and replaced the level sensor even though, as far as I could tell, it was functionally perfectly.

The problem persisted so I figured that it must be the control module. With a great deal of effort, I got myself a new (and newly programmed) control module. In the meantime the intermittent problem had been getting rather worse and around the same time (coincidence?) the motor stopped working. Now the machine fills and drains, but the motor doesn't turn. The new control module makes the machine behave in an identical way to having the old control module in, by the way.

I have now tested the stator and rotor continuity, taken the brushes off and inspected them - they are fine - the machine is only 12 and a bit months old. Yet it functions not.

Suggestions? I am willing to believe anything now...