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Abysmal success rate of driving test fraudsters
Date published: 15/12/2009
A HAPLESS pair of fraudsters who were paid to take more than 40 driving tests across the country, including in Oldham and Failsworth, have been jailed.
Between them, Ali Abdullah (28), of City Road, Hulme, and Muqtar Nuren (22), of Staycott Street, Moss Side, took 27 practical tests and 16 theory tests for 35 different candidates on a “no pass, no fee” basis.
The pair only managed to pass seven practical and three theory tests between them between October, 2006, and July, 2008.
The scam targeted theory test centres in Salford, Runcorn, Preston, Stockport, St Helens and Ilford in east London, as well as practical test centres in Oldham, Failsworth, Sale, Bury, Cheetham Hill, Huddersfield and Redditch in Worcestershire.
Suspicions were raised because they looked nothing like the people pictured on the provisional licences they were using, and an investigation was launched by the Driving Standards Agency.
The pair were arrested in July last year after being linked to the cheat tests by CCTV.
Both were found to have two licences each and it is believed they were part of a ring of crooks.
They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud in October this year.
At Manchester Crown Court yesterday, Abdullah was sentenced to three years in jail, and Nuren for a year, for conspiracy to defraud the DSA.
Speaking of the “spectacularly unsophisticated” fraud Joe Boyd, representing Abdullah, said the success rate was abysmal.
He added: “It was an enormous amount of effort for very little reward, the benefit is minuscule.”
Benjamin Myers, for Nuren, said: “Staff at the centres appeared to be aware of what was happening. There were a number of times when Nuren was challenged.”
The DSA will now seek to revoke all licences obtained by illegal means.
Speaking after the sentencing, Michelle Moston, deputy head of DSA’s fraud and integrity team, said: “People like Abdullah and Nuren present a real risk to all road users as they provide an entitlement to drive to those who have not been assessed to show that they are competent to do so.”
Have Your Say
A pair of master criminals, GMP better look out for these 2 in the future
What has this got to do with illegal immigrants? There isn't a huge problem with illegal immigrants - unless you read the Daily Mail. There are much bigger problems, like the bankers receiving 850,000 MILLION pounds of taxpayers' money, so far. Why don't you moan about that?
To OldhamLad39-if someone can't pass a test on their own merit, they shouldn't be driving alone. They might cause an accident and it may involve you, so good on GMP! And if they looked nothing like their licence, IMO that is when GMP should have been called to stop them doing it again so many times.
an earlier headline read "Borough is a risky place to drive" IS IT ANY WONDER WITH THIS GOING ON, these are just the ones that got got caught!!!!
So ammypam you think there is no problem with illegal immigrants. The standard of driving around Oldham is abysmal. How many of these drivers are illegal and how maby are insured. I do not think the fact that Oldham is high in the accident rates is any co incidence
No problem if you don't mind over 1 Million illegals, I take it you're a socialist ammypam?
Trouble is with this case is that they were copycats how many other scams like this are going on? No wonder the accident rate in Oldham is so high!
Fancy this story turning up after the other nights story of accidents in oldham.
Once again light sentences so as not to offend the pc brigade with no concern for the innocent legal citizens of this country.
No problem if you don't mind over 1 Million illegals, I take it you're a socialist ammypam?
Trouble is with this case is that they were copycats how many other scams like this are going on? No wonder the accident rate in Oldham is so high!
"There isn't a huge problem with illegal immigrants" ammypam, you have again demonstrated you complete disconnection from reality.
You only have to watch/read about Sangatte and see the queue of people waiting to jump on to trucks to enter the country illegally, to realise we do have a problem with illegal immigrants
Ammypam, take the blinkers off and get with reality. Organised crime is at an all time high and rising sharply. Many gangs operating are not even known to be in this country! We are a soft target for them. Watch crimewatch.
So what happens to the 40 or so individuals who paid them to obtain a fraudulent driving licence? Obviously the dvla will have all their details. "suspicions were aroused as they looked nothing like the person on the photograph"! Maybe this is why we have a huge problem with illegal immigrants too?
By timberwolf @ 15/12/2009 14:00:16
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