Woman who took driving tests for more than 100 people jailed over scam
Circumventing driving test process ‘puts innocent road users at risk’, police say
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
A woman who impersonated people to sit their driving tests more than 100 times has been jailed, according to police.
Inderjeet Kaur, 29, admitted taking approximately 150 theory and practical driving tests on behalf of candidates between 2018 and 2020.
Swansea Crown Court heard Kaur committed the offences throughout England and Wales, including Swansea, Carmarthen, Birmingham and around London.
Suspicion grew by staff at the test centres that Kaur was impersonating genuine candidates while taking the test.
Following a referral from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, an investigation was launched by detectives in South Wales.
They found Kaur was offering services to test applicants who had difficulty with the English language.
Kaur, from Llanelli, pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court and was jailed for eight months.
Detective Chief Inspector Steven Maloney, who led the investigation, said: “The crimes Kaur committed circumvent the driving test process and, in turn, puts innocent road users at risk, by allowing unskilled and dangerous motorists to have seemingly legitimate licences.
“Safety on our roads has always been a priority and arresting those that flaunt the law ensures that we can keep unqualified drivers off the road.
“By working with the DVSA, this complex criminal investigation highlighted the extent of Kaur’s offending which was purely out of greed.”
He added: “Kaur’s offending has now been halted, and she has now been brought to justice, and we welcome the sentence imposed by the courts.
“Frauds such as these pose significant risks to the general public and I urge any members of the public with information on such crimes to report them to the police.”
Caroline Hicks from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said the priority of her organisation was “to protect everyone from unsafe drivers and vehicles”.
“Driving and theory tests exist to help ensure people have the correct knowledge, skills and attitude to drive on our roads,” she said.
“Circumventing the tests puts lives in danger, we have methods in place to detect test fraud and will come down hard on the people involved.
“This includes cancelling test passes that have been gained fraudulently.”