Driving test con man from Black Country jailed

Harinder Singh Mander took the theory tests over a period of four months in various parts of the country, and was paid up to £150 to pass by people who thought they would fail.

He said he was recruited to the con by another man at a pub in Dudley.

After his arrest in Luton, CCTV footage was uncovered which showed Singh Mander - of St Kenelms Close, West Bromwich - sitting the theory tests in various centres including Harlow, Slough, Oxford, and Stratford-upon-Avon posing as other people.

At Luton Crown Court, 36-year-old Singh Mander, a father of two, was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to a charge of fraud by false representation.

Judge Michael Kay QC told him: "Obviously, there is a serious risk of having people not fit to drive on our roads, one can only imagine the chaos that would be caused.

You were enabling such people to obtain a licence."

Miss Isabel Delamere, prosecuting, told the court the scam went on between January 25 and May 27 this year - the day of his arrest.

Each time, he would produce a photo driving licence in the name of the applicant, pay with a credit card and sit the test.

Staff at the Luton centre alerted police while he was taking the test, and he was arrested.

He went on to make full admissions, saying he was working for another man who had recruited him in a pub in Dudley.

The other man provided the driving licences and drove him to the centres.

Miss Lisa Bald, defending, said Singh Mander had started a degree course in law, but had to give up and support his sister through her course because of family financial issues.

Then he ran a successful mechanics business for ten years, but when that failed he turned to alcohol.

"That affected his family life and he has hit rock bottom. But he has shown genuine remorse and has stopped drinking," she said.

She urged the court to suspend the sentence, but Judge Kay said that would not be appropriate.

Speaking afterwards, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency's head of counter fraud, Andy Rice, said: "Although instances of impersonation fraud are rare in relation to the 1.8m theory tests which are taken each year, DVSA continues to take them seriously, and work closely with the police to bring offenders to justice.

"This sentence sends out a clear message that those who put road users and the public at risk by cheating the driving test process, will be pursued and prosecuted."