Worksop: Man sentenced for driving test fraud

Ali Mohammed was arrested after he returned with the examiner

A man who tried to take a driving test for someone else has been handed a suspended jail sentence.

Ali Mohammed was arrested at Worksop Test Centre, in Nottinghamshire, after going out on the test with an examiner.

He had provided false identification and looked "markedly different" to the man due to attend, police said.

The 48-year-old was given a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday.

At Nottingham Crown Court, Mohammed was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community

Mohammed, of Estone Walk, Birmingham, had pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

On 24 October 2022, detectives warned test centre staff that Mohammed was likely to provide false details and take a test on behalf of another man later that day.

Police said the court was told the fraud attempt was "crudely executed" as Mohammed looked "markedly different" to the man who was booked in.

He also looked visibly younger than him, said police.

In mitigation, it was said he was under pressure to pay a debt to a family member at the time and had not offended in about 20 years.

PC Bethany Childs said: "Impersonating another individual on a test for financial gain is obviously a serious offence which potentially puts other road users at risk and undermines the principle of the testing process.

"I hope this case sends a clear message to those who believe they can break the law for their own financial gain that offences will be uncovered and you will be brought before the courts."

During sentencing, Mohammed was also told to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.