A DAD-of-two who failed his theory test 27 times paid £1,000 to an accomplice to take it on his behalf.

Sujon Miah would have got away with it were it not for the eagle eyes of staff at the Swindon theory test centre.

Now, the 31-year-old from Gloucester has been sentenced to 10 months suspended for two years at Swindon Crown Court after admitting supplying an article for use in a fraud.

Birmingham dad-of-nine Abdalla Ilmi, 49, received a five-month prison sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty before the magistrates for a similar offence.

Sentencing them, Judge Peter Crabtree told the men: “You frustrated the test system and [would have] put lives at risk every time you took to the road if you had been successful.”

Growing problem

Justin Davies, prosecuting the case on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, said the authorities were aware of a growing number of fraudsters travelling to centres around the country and taking the theory test on others’ behalf.

Sujon Miah had failed his driving theory test 27 times since 2008. He was approached by a man who said he could help the 31-year-old pass the test. They had never met but instead talked over the phone.

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Sujon Miah

Miah handed over £1,000, arranging to pay the fee in instalments. On November 20, 2018, a man attended the Swindon theory test centre purporting to be Miah. Staff became suspicious, as the man did not look like the picture on the provisional driving licence.

He was asked to provide his signature and also handed over Miah’s bank details and a picture of Miah and his family. Staff asked if the woman in the picture was the man’s wife. He initially answered no before correcting himself. The man offered to get further proof of identification from his cousin waiting in a nearby car park and left but did not return.

A theory test was successfully completed on Miah’s behalf in January. That result has since been voided.

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Abdulla Ilmi

Abdalla Ilmi was said to have arranged with a fellow Somali man for him to sit the test on his behalf. That individual was caught out at the Swindon theory test centre on March 19.

He claimed It was the first time he had tried to take the test, but enquiries revealed Ilmi had made three previous attempts. The man tried to claim the photograph on Ilmi’s provisional licence was old despite it having only recently been issued. He claimed variously that he had left his passport in Birmingham and outside the test centre before doing a runner.

Interviewed by the DVSA, Ilmi claimed he would consider commissioning someone else to do the test on his behalf again as he was desperate to pass.

Defence case

Joe Maloney, for Miah, said his client had hoped to gain his licence in order to get a better job. His wife, two young children and Bangladesh-based mum all suffered from health issues, with Miah paying for his mum’s nursing care.

He had attempted to help the police with their enquiries, giving them details about the man with whom he had dealt.

“When he was interviewed, when the facts were presented to him, when he was confronted by the blindingly obvious he accepted it and attempted to make amends,” Mr Maloney said.

Tom Wilkins, for Ilmi, said his client had nine children including a severely-autistic daughter. He wanted a driving licence so he could drive his disabled girl to appointments as she did not like taking public transport.

Miah was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and costs of £400. Ilmi must do 160 hours of unpaid work and pay £400 costs.

Reaction

Reacting to the sentences, the DVSA's head of counter-fraud Andy Rice said: “The theory test is vital to make sure candidates have the knowledge and attitude to drive safely and responsibly, as well as making sure they know the theory behind safe driving."