A fraudster has kept his licence even though he sat theory and practical driving tests for others in a cash-to-pass scam. Car wash worker Ali Ahmad was jailed before Nottingham Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to multiple offences of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.
He was prosecuted by the DVSA. Ahmad, 46, of Griffiths Close, Ipswich, sat both the theory and practical driving tests in place of two men. His crimes were in Ipswich, Leicester and Watnall, Nottinghamshire.
The court was told there was "sophistication" to this offence, and an indication he was running "effectively a business". Generally candidates would pay £700 to £1,000 for this service to obtain a licence.
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When released from police custody, an officer asked father-of-two Ahmad what happened if he took a test and failed? He reply was: "Like the said, no win, no fee".
Judge Mark Watson imposed an overall sentence of 18 months, saying: "You are a driver and you are licensed to drive - I don't make a disqualification order in your case".
Ahmad was sentenced on Tuesday (November 15) for 14 offences - amounting to him sitting both theory and practical driving tests on behalf of two others. "As a result, both of those individuals became full UK driver licence holders - that they became holders of driving licences without themselves having proved their ability," said the judge.
"This was offending by you over a 12-month period and persisted in that, when you failed one test, you retook it. These are serious offences because they effect the safety of the roads.
"The checks and balances of the licensing system are necessary to check the minimum standard of knowledge and competency. By bypassing those checks, you undermined the protection that affords the public.
"You did so by not only taking the theory tests but also the practical driving tests as well. There are two driving licence holders as a result".
Matt Barker, DVSA’s Head of Enforcement Investigations and Counter Fraud, said: “DVSA’s priority is to protect everyone from unsafe drivers and vehicles. Driving and theory tests exist to help ensure people have the correct knowledge, skills and attitude to drive on our roads.
“Circumventing the tests puts lives in danger, we have methods in place to detect test fraud and will come down hard on the people involved. This includes cancelling test passes that have been gained fraudulently.”
The sentencing
Ct1: Conspiracy to commit fraud 04/06/18 - 9 months imprisonment
Ct 2: Fraud 04/06/18 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 3: Conspiracy to commit fraud 28/11/18 - 9 months imprisonment consecutive
Ct 4: Fraud 28/11/18 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 5: Fraud 22/12/18 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 6: Poss article for use in fraud 22/12/18 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 7: Fraud 27/12/18 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 8: Poss article for use in fraud 27/12/18 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 9: Poss article for use in fraud 10/01/19 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 10: Fraud 10/01/19 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 11: Fraud 11/06/19 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 12: Poss article for use in fraud 11/06/19 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 13: fraud 15/07/19 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
Ct 14: Poss article for use in fraud 15/07/19 - 9 months imprisonment concurrent
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