Road to nowhere

Waseem Javed

A MOTORIST was allowed to drive for six years despite not having taken an extended retest after being banned from getting behind the wheel.

The case of Waseem Javed, of Morris Street, Glodwick, has exposed alarming gaps in ensuring banned drivers carry out the required checks before being allowed back on the road.

In 2003, Mr Javed was given an 18-month community order and disqualified from driving for 12 months after being charged with driving without a licence or insurance, failing to stop after an accident and the subsequent failure to report it.

He was driving around Glodwick when he bumped his car against a kerb and hit a parked car.

The father-of-three was finally able to take his driving test in 2008 and issued with a full driving licence.

All seemed fine and he had no idea he was listed as a disqualified driver until the police pulled him over in July for a faulty light on his car.

When Mr Javed produced his licence, officers told him he would need to inform the DVLA and they would resolve the issue. The DVLA said Mr Javed was disqualified from driving and would need to send back his licence so it could be endorsed.

Mr Javed, a security guard, was puzzled as to why his licence needed endorsing, and why he was sent a provisional licence, which they are now asking to be returned along with his current driving licence.

He has also since found out, after checking Minshull Street Crown Court records — where he was sentenced — that he should have taken an extended test due to his conviction.

A letter sent to him from the DVLA states that his licence had not been endorsed as he did not produce his driving licence or only produced part of it to the court for his sentence to be recorded.

But Mr Javed did not have a licence in 2003, hence the conviction.

He has refused to send back his licence as he believes it is his only proof in his argument. As a result, his licence has been revoked.

Not having a licence would make life difficult for him, he said, as he needs to get to work and take his children to and from school.

Mr Javed (38) said: “It should have flagged up on their system, I would have done the extended test. Not seven years later. My insurance is going to go sky high.

“They’ve made the error. I was going about my business in the right way.

“I’ve only been pulled up once in seven years by the police and that was for a mechanical fault.

“I made a mistake when I was younger but now I’m taking life seriously.

“I’ve got three kids — I’ve got responsibilities.

“It’s hitting me, and it’s hitting me hard.”

Mr Javed also said he has been sent two provisional licences from the DVLA — one from 2008 and another from 1995. Mr Javed claims he does not recall even applying for the the latter, which contains a spelling mistake.

The Chronicle contacted the DVLA who were unable to comment specifically on Mr Javed’s case, due to data protection rules.

A spokesman said: “While we are not prepared to comment on the detail of this specific case, I can confirm that we have fully investigated Mr Javed’s case and we have done nothing wrong.

“We have already spoken to Mr Javed to explain the current position and advise him what he needs to do next.

“It is the driving licence holder’s responsibility to ensure the details on their driving licence are correct and to contact us immediately if any changes are needed.”