A fraudster has been found to have charged at least 36 learner drivers up to £1,500 a time to take their driving theory tests, a court heard.
Satwinder Singh, 34, took the £23 test for non-English speakers across a four-year period. The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issued pictures of Singh to different test centres as a warning.
On June 6, Singh was arrested after he was recognised while attempting to take an exam in Reading, Berks. He was found holding a driving licence under someone else's name. The man from Swansea admitted to the specific offences of impersonating genuine test candidates for payment at Person and Reed test centres.
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He also admitted possessing an article, a driving licence, for the use of fraud. He accepted he intended to deceive staff into believing he was the other person to take the driving theory test under that name.
Singh asked for two other similar offences to be taken into consideration ahead of his sentencing. The other test centres he targeted were in locations such as Manchester, Sheffield, Southgate, Oxford, Aylesbury, Guildford, Staines and Bristol.
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Magistrates in Reading, Berks, sent his case to crown court for sentencing at a later date. He was bailed on the condition that he does not attend any Reeds or Pearson driving theory test centres.
He could face up to 10 years in jail.
A DVSA spokesperson said: “Driving test fraud is a serious offence, and we’re working closely with social media companies and other agencies to crack down and prosecute those attempting to cheat the system.”
