Elderly woman convicted over one-letter car insurance mistake

• An 86-year-old woman from York was convicted in a fast-track court after a single letter typo on her car insurance rendered it technically invalid.
• She had mistakenly written an 'F' instead of an 'S' in her vehicle's number plate when obtaining cover from Swinton Insurance.
• Despite letters from the woman and her niece explaining the error, she was convicted under the controversial Single Justice Procedure.
• The magistrate imposed a three-month conditional discharge and a £26 victim surcharge, rather than a fine.
• The DVLA is now reviewing the case and may seek to overturn the conviction if the registration typo is confirmed as the cause.

IN FULL

Pensioner given criminal conviction over single-letter typo on car insurance form